Selective inhibitors of translesion dna replication

ABSTRACT

An agent for inhibiting translesion DNA replication comprises a non-natural adenine ribose analog represented by those as set forth in FIG.  1.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/662,311, filed Mar. 16, 2005, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The U.S. government may own rights in this invention pursuant NIH GrantNo. R01 CA18408.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to selective inhibitors of translesion DNAreplication and to methods of using such inhibitors for therapeutic anddiagnostic applications.

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapeutic agents that compromise the integrity of nucleic acidare important components in modern medical efforts to combathyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune dysfunctionsas well as viral and microbial infections. Many compounds, such as BCNU,cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin are effective chemotherapeutic agentsbecause they significantly modify nucleic acid and inhibit DNA synthesisand/or DNA repair to prevent cellular proliferation. However, thewidespread use of these agents is limited by two major complications.First, they are non-selective DNA damaging agents. Second, these agentsinduce lesions that if inappropriately replicated can cause furthermutagenic events to potentiate oncogenesis. Translesion DNA synthesisalso represents a possible route for the initiation of drug resistance,genetic variations associated with solid tumors, and the development ofsecondary cancers.

These concerns have prompted the design of more selective drugs thattarget specific enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism. Arguably,the more successful of these agents are nucleotide analogs, such as AZTand acyclovir, that terminate DNA polymerization. The use of theseagents is historically associated with the treatment of viruses, such asHIV and herpes simplex virus. However, they and other analogs, such asaraC and fludarabine have also been used in the treatment of cancer.Unfortunately, the therapeutic utility of these nucleotide analogs isoften limited by complications. The most prevalent of thesecomplications is the excision of the enzymatically-inserted nucleotidefrom the primer-template to reverse chain termination which allows forthe re-initiation of DNA synthesis. Although viral polymerases usepyrophosphorolysis to remove chain terminators from DNA, eukaryotes useexonuclease proofreading-activity to effectively excise the insertedchain terminator. Either activity provides a mechanism for drugresistance. Another complication is that these inhibitors containalterations in the ribose moiety while the nucleobase portion remainsidentical to that of a natural nucleoside. As a consequence, there is anintrinsic lack of selectivity for inhibiting one DNA polymerase versusanother. Since these agents resemble their natural counterparts, theymay be degraded by cellular enzymes that metabolize natural nucleotides.For example, this complication limits the use of fludarabine and mayplay a significant role in the development of drug resistance to othernatural nucleoside analogs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agents that are selective inhibitors oftranslesion DNA replication. The agents comprise selective nucleosideanalogs that have enhanced binding affinity and faster polymerization toabasic sites on mutagenic DNA than natural nucleosides. The agents inaccordance with the present invention can target and inhibitpro-mutagenic DNA synthesis, a leading culprit in disease development aswell as in the development of drug resistance.

The agents in accordance with the present invention can comprise anucleoside analog that is selectively inserted opposite an abasic siteof damaged or mutagenic DNA. The therapeutic agent behaves as a chainterminator once inserted and is poorly incorporated into unmodified(i.e., natural) DNA. In an aspect of the invention, the nucleosideanalog can have the following formula (I):

where Het is a heterocyclic azaindene analog (e.g., purine analogs orindole analog) selected from the group consisting of:

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻), orOR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain, branchedor cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, arylsulfonyl,aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue, or a mono, di,or triphosphate derivative;

where R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆,R₁₇, and R₁₈, each independently represent substituents selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl,sulfhydryl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyl (including C₁-C₂₄ alkylcarbonyl (—CO-alkyl) and C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonyl (—CO-aryl)), acyloxy (—O-acyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl(—(CO)—O-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl (—(CO)—O-aryl), halocarbonyl(—CO)—X where X is halo), C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-alkyl),C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-aryl), carboxy (—COOH), carboxylato(—COO⁻), carbamoyl (—(CO)—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl(—(CO)—NH(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)), di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl(—(CO)—N(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)₂), mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl(—(CO)—NH-aryl), thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—NH₂), carbamido (—NH—(CO)NH₂),cyano(—CN), isocyano (—N⁺C⁻), cyanato (—O—CN), isocyanato (—O—N⁺C⁻),isothiocyanato (—S—CN), azido (—N═N⁺═N⁻), formyl (—(CO)—H), thioformyl(—CS)—H), amino (—NH₂), mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino,mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido(—NH—(CO)-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ arylamido (—NH—(CO)-aryl), imino (—CR═NH whereR is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, etc.), alkylimino (—CR═N(alkyl), where R=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl,alkaryl, aralkyl, etc.), arylimino (—CR═N(aryl), where R=hydrogen,alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, etc.), nitro (—NO₂), nitroso (—NO), sulfo(—SO₂—OH), sulfonato (—SO₂—O⁻), C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl (—S-alkyl; alsotermed “alkylthio”), arylsulfanyl (—S-aryl; also termed “arylthio”),C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl (—(SO)-alkyl), C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl (—(SO)-aryl),C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl (—SO₂-alkyl), C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl (—SO₂-aryl),phosphono (—P(O)(OH)₂), phosphonato (—P(O)(O⁻)₂), phosphinato(—P(O)(O⁻)), phospho (—PO₂), phosphino (—PH₂), and combinations thereof,and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linkedto form a cyclic structure selected from five-membered rings,six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/or six-membered rings,wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, orheteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that at least one of R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅,R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, R₁₈ is otherthan hydrogen and that where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, the nucleoside analog can have thefollowing formula (II):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residude, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative;

where R₄, R₅, and R₆ each independently represent substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl,C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo,hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl,halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy,carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl,thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato,isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino,C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino, alkylimino, arylimino,nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino,and combinations thereof, and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho)substituents may be linked to form a cyclic structure selected fromfive-membered rings, six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/orsix-membered rings, wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic,heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogensubstituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that atleast one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other than hydrogen; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆ is ahalo, (e.g., fluoro), amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl (e.g., phenyl ornapthyl), C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (e.g., ethyl, cyclohexyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl (e.g.ethenyl, cyclohexenyl), carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

In yet another aspect of the invention, at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆is a substituent that has π-electron surface area and density effectiveto facilitate base stacking interactions and enhance the efficiency ofinsertion of the nucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.

In a further aspect of the invention, the nucleoside analog can have thefollowing formula (III):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative;

where R₅ is a halo, (e.g., fluoro), amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl (e.g.,phenyl or napthyl), C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (e.g., ethenyl, cyclohexenyl), C₂-C₂₄alkenyl (e.g. ethylene, cyclohexene, carboxyl, or nitro; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention R5 is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.

The agents in accordance with the present invention can be used as atherapeutic agent in methods for inhibiting translesion DNA synthesis incells containing mutagenic DNA. In an aspect of the invention, thetherapeutic agents in accordance with the invention can be used in amethod of treating a proliferative disease (e.g., Leukemia), such as ina patient (e.g., a mammal, such as a human) in need of such treatment.The method can comprise the administration of the therapeutic agentalone or in conjunction with other therapeutic agents. The othertherapeutic agents can comprise promutagenic and/or cytotoxic agentsthat can potentially compromise the integrity of nucleic acidsassociated with DNA replication and cellular proliferation (i.e., DNAdamaging agents). The DNA damaging agents can comprise chemotherapeuticagents (e.g., alkylating agents), antimetabolites, antitumorgenicagents, antimitotic agents, antineoplastic agents. The therapeuticagents can potentiate the effects of at least some of these othertherapeutic agents.

The present invention also relates to a method of monitoring DNA damage.In the method a sample containing cells from a patient is obtained. Thesample is treated with a fluorescent agent that has the followingformula (II):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative;

where R₄, R₅, and R₆ each independently represent substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl,C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo,hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl,halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy,carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl,thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato,isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino,C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino, alkylimino, arylimino,nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino,and combinations thereof, and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho)substituents may be linked to form a cyclic structure selected fromfive-membered rings, six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/orsix-membered rings, wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic,heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogensubstituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that atleast one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other than hydrogen; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof;

The amount of fluorescent agent incorporated into the DNA of the cellsis then determined. In a further aspect of the invention, the amount offluorescent agent incorporated into the DNA is determined by flowcytometry. The fluorescent agent can comprise5-phenyl-indolyl-2′deoxyriboside, a phosphate thereof, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates (A) Structures of 2′-deoxynucleoside triphosphatesused or referred to are dATP, 5-NITP, Ind-TP, 5-PhITP, 5-FITP, and5-AITP. For convenience, dR is used to represent the deoxyribosetriphosphate portion of the nucleotides. (B) Defined DNA substrates usedfor kinetic analysis. “X” in the template strand denotes any of the fournatural nucleobase or the presence of a tetrahydrofuran moiety designedto mimic an abasic site.

FIG. 2 is a plot illustrating time courses in the incorporation of 250μM 5-AITP (), 150 μM 5-FITP (◯), and 15 μM 5-PhITP (□) opposite anabasic site. All reactions were performed using pseudo-first-orderreaction conditions (50 nM gp43 exo⁻/1000 nM 13/20SP-mer). Extrapolationof the time course back to time zero does not reveal a burst in productformation using 5-AITP or 5-FITP. In contrast, an apparent burst inprimer elongation is observed using a significantly lower concentrationof 5-PhITP.

FIG. 3 is a plot illustrating pre-steady-state time courses for theinsertion 5-PhIMP opposite an abasic site (□) or opposite T (◯). Assaysmonitoring translesion DNA synthesis were performed mixing apre-incubated solution of 75 nM gp43 exo− and 2 μM 5′-labeled13/20SP-mer with an equal volume of a pre-incubated solution of 10 mMMgAcetate and 10 μM 5-PhITP in the same reaction buffer (finalconcentrations). The reaction was then terminated at various times bythe addition of 350 nM EDTA at the times demarcated on the graphs.Assays monitoring the insertion of 5-PhIMP opposite T were performedunder identical conditions exception that the concentration of 5-PhITPwas maintained at 100 μM.

FIG. 4(A-B) are plots illustrating the dependency of 5-PhITPconcentration on the observed rate constant in primer elongation asmeasured using single turnover conditions. (A) gp43exo⁻ (1 μM) and5′-labeled 13/20SP-mer (250 nM) were preincubated, mixed with increasingconcentrations of Mg²⁺:5-PhITP to initiate the reaction, and quenchedwith 500 mM EDTA at variable times (0.005-0.25 sec). The incorporationof 5-PhITP was analyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis. 5-PhITPconcentrations were 2.5 μM (◯), 5 μM (□), 12.5 μM (□), 25 μM (▪), 50 μM(Δ) and 100 μM (▴). The solid lines represent the fit of the data to asingle exponential. (B). The observed rate constants for 5-PhIMPinsertion (□) were plotted against 5-PhITP concentration and fit to theMichaelis-Menten equation to determine values corresponding to K_(d) andk_(pol).

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a kinetic mechanism of gp43exo−,the bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase. Individual steps along the pathwayfor DNA polymerization are numbered and identified. Abbreviations: E=T4DNA polymerase, DNAn=DNA substrate, E′=conformational change in DNApolymerase, PP_(i)=inorganic pyrophosphate, and DNAn+1=DNA product (DNAextended by one nucleobase).

FIG. 6 is a plot illustrating rapid quench kinetic time courses for theincorporation of 5-PhITP opposite an abasic site using EDTA () or HCl(∘) as the quenching reagent. The gp43 exo− (1 μM) and 5′-labeled13/20SP-mer (250 nM) were preincubated, mixed with 10 mM Mg²⁺ and 30 μM5-PhITP to initiate the reaction, and quenched with either 500 mM EDTAor 1 M HCl at variable times (0.005-0.35 s). After quenching with HCl,100 mL of phenol/chloroform/iso-amyl alcohol was added to extract thepolymerase, and the pH of the aqueous phase was neutralized with theaddition of 1 M Tris/3 M NaOH. Product formation was analyzed bydenaturing gel electrophoresis followed by phosphorimaging analysis. Aburst amplitude of 240±6 nM and a kobs of 38.4±2.1 s⁻1 were obtainedusing EDTA as the quench, while a burst amplitude of 220 (3 nM and akobs of 37.4±1.4 s−1 were obtained using HCl as the quench.

FIG. 7(A-B) are plots illustrating the dependency of 5-PhITPconcentration on incorporation opposite T as measured underpseudo-first-order reaction conditions. (A) gp43 (50 nM) and 5′-labeled13/20SP-mer (1 μM) were preincubated, mixed with increasingconcentrations of Mg²⁺/5-PhITP to initiate the reaction, and quenchedwith 200 mM EDTA at variable times (5-120 s). The insertion of 5-PhITPwas analyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis. 5-PhITP concentrationswere 10 (◯), 25 (), 50 (□), 100 (Δ), 250 (▪), and 350 μM (Δ). The solidlines represent the fit of the data to a straight line. (B) The observedrates for 5-PhIMP insertion (◯) were plotted against 5-PhITPconcentration and fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation to determinevalues corresponding to K_(D) and k_(pol).

FIGS. 8(A-B) are: (A) Computer-generated model for5-phenyl-indoledeoxyribose. Electrostatic surface potentials weregenerated using Spartan '04 software. Red indicates the highestelectronegative regions, green is neutral, and blue indicateselectropositive regions. The partial atomic charges were calculatedusing Hartree-Fock 3-21G(*) (displayed) or the AM1 model (data notshown). (B) Computer-generated model comparing the structures of basepairs corresponding to 5-phenyl-indole-deoxyribose monophosphate pairedopposite an abasic site (top) with that for adenine deoxyribosemonophosphate paired opposite thymine deoxyribose monophosphate(bottom). Electrostatic surface potentials were generated using Spartan'04 software as described above.

FIG. 9 is a computer generated model for proposed π-π stackinginteractions of the incoming dNTP with aromatic amino acids in theactive site of RB69 DNA polymerase. For clarity, the conserved aromaticamino acids of the DNA polymerase are colored in blue. The 3′-terminalof DNA duplex is colored yellow. The coming dTTP, colored in pink, isshown as a stick model.

FIG. 10 illustrates (A) structures of 2′-deoxynucleoside triphosphatesused in this study are dATP, 5-NITP, and 5-PhITP. For convenience, dR isused to represent the deoxyribose triphosphate portion of thenucleotide. (B) Defined DNA substrates used for kinetic analysis. “X” inthe template strand denotes thymine or the presence of a tetrahydrofuranmoiety that functionally mimics an abasic site.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a mechanism of idle turnover ofdXTP opposite an abasic site or thymine. Individual steps along thepathway are numbered and identified as follows: Step 1 represents thebinding polymerase to DNA and is defined as the K_(D) DNA, Step 2represents the binding of dXTP to the polymerase: DNA complex and isdefined as the K_(D dXTP), Step 3 represents the rate constant in DNApolymerization as is denoted as k_(pol), Step 4 represents translocationand pyrophosphate release, Step 5 represents the rate constant ofexonucleolytic degradation of DNA_(n+1) to yield DNA_(n) and is definedas kexo, and Step 6 represents the binding of dXTP to the polymerase DNAcomplex at the next templating position and is denoted as K_(D).Abbreviations: E=gp43exo⁺, DNA_(n)=DNA substrate, PP_(i)=inorganicpyrophosphate, and DNA_(n+1)=DNA product (DNA extended by onenucleobase).

FIG. 12 illustrates 5-NITP is a chain terminator of translesion DNAsynthesis. (A) Protocol used to measure the ability of gp43 exo− toextend beyond nonnatural mispairs. Assays monitoring translesion DNAsynthesis were performed mixing a preincubated solution of 1 μM gp43exo−, 500 nM 5′-labeled 13/20SP-mer, and 10 mM Mg²⁺ with 50 μM 5-NITPfor 30 s (B) or 500 μM dATP for 3 min (C). In both cases, 1000 μM dGTPwas then added to allow for elongation beyond the formed mispair. Thereaction was then terminated at various times by the addition of 200 mMEDTA at time intervals ranging from 5 to 300 s. Nucleotide incorporationwas analyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis.

FIG. 13 illustrates 5-NITP competes with dATP for binding to the DNApolymerase during translesion DNA synthesis. gp43 exo⁻ (1 μM) and5′-labeled 13/20SP-mer (250 nM) were preincubated in the presence of 10mM Mg2+ and mixed with 500 μM dATP and 1000 μM dGTP in the absence (A)or presence of 20 μM 5-NITP (B). In both cases, the reactions wereterminated at various times by the addition of 200 mM EDTA at timeintervals ranging from 5-300 seconds. Nucleotide incorporation wasanalyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis.

FIG. 14 illustrates 5-NITP does not inhibit DNA synthesis usingundamaged DNA. 10 nM gp43 exo⁻ and 1000 nM 5′-labeled 13/20-mer werepreincubated in the presence of 10 mM Mg²⁺ and mixed with 10 μM dNTPs(dATP, dGTP, and dTTP) in the absence (A) or presence of 500 μM NITP(B). In both cases, the reactions were terminated at various times bythe addition of 200 mM EDTA at time intervals ranging from 5-300seconds. Nucleotide incorporation was analyzed by denaturing gelelectrophoresis. FIG. C reports the amount of product formed as afunction of time.

FIG. 15 illustrates 5-NIMP is excised slower than dAMP when placedopposite an abasic site. The time course in excision of dXMP oppositethe lesion was performed mixing a preincubated solution of 1 μM gp43exo⁺: 10 mM Mg²⁺ versus 250 nM 5′-labeled DNA: 10 mM Mg²⁺ (finalconcentrations) and terminating the reaction at various times by theaddition of 350 mM EDTA. The time course in dAMP excision is representedby (□) while that for 5-NIMP excision is represented by (◯). Each timecourse represents an average of three independent determinations. Timecourses were fit to the equation for single exponential decay,y=Ae^(−kt)+C, where A is the burst amplitude, k is the observed rateconstant for product formation, and C is the end point of the reaction.The rate constant, k_(exo), for excising dAMP is 28.5+/−1.1 sec⁻¹ whilefor measured for 5-NIMP excision is 9.9+/−0.8 sec⁻¹.

FIG. 16 illustrates representative gel electrophoresis data for the idleturnover of 5-NITP during insertion opposite an abasic site. 1 μM gp43exo⁺ was added last to a solution containing 250 nM 5′-labeled13/20SP-mer, 10 mM Mg2+ and 20 μM NITP (panel A) or 200 μM NITP (panelB). Reactions were terminated by the addition of 200 mM EDTA at timeintervals ranging from 5-600 seconds. Nucleotide incorporation andexcision were analyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis. Panel Creports the amount of product formed as a function of time using 5-NITPconcentrations of 20 μM (◯) and 200 μM (□), respectively.

FIG. 17 illustrates a comparison of idle turnover kinetics for 5-NITPand 5-PhITP insertion opposite an abasic site. 1 μM gp43 exo+ was addedlast to a solution containing 250 nM 5′-labeled 13/20SP-mer, 10 mM Mg²⁺and 100 μM 5-NITP (panel A) or 100 μM 5-PhITP (panel B). Reactions wereterminated by the addition of 200 mM EDTA at time intervals ranging from30-300 seconds. Nucleotide incorporation and excision were analyzed bydenaturing gel electrophoresis. Panel C reports the amount of productformed as a function of time using 100 μM 5-NITP (◯) or 100 μM 5-PhITP(□), respectively.

FIG. 18 illustrates (A) Structures of 2′ deoxynucleoside triphosphatesused or referred to in this study are 5-NITP, 5-PhITP, dATP, N6-methyldATP, 6-Cl-dATP, dITP, dGTP, O6-methyl-dGTP, N2-methyl-dGTP, 2-APTP,2,6-DAPTP, 6-Cl-2-APTP, 7-Deaza dATP, 7-Deaza-dGTP, 8-OxodATP. Forconvenience, R is used to represent the deoxyribose triphosphate portionof the nucleotides. (B) Defined DNA substrates used for kineticanalysis. “X” in the template strand denotes any of the four naturalnucleobase or the presence of a tetrahydrofuran moiety.

FIG. 19 are plots illustrating (A) Dependency of N⁶-methyl dATPconcentration on the observed rate constant in primer elongation asmeasured using single turnover conditions. The following concentrationsof N⁴-methyl dATP were used: 25 μM (), 50 μM (□), 100 μM (⋄), 250 μM(+), and 500 μM (Δ). The solid lines represent the fit of each set ofdata to a single exponential process. (B) The observed rate constantsfor N⁶-methyl dATP insertion (a) were plotted against N⁶-methyl dATPconcentration and fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation to determinevalues corresponding to K_(D) and k_(pol).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to agents that are potent chainterminators of translesion DNA replication. By acting as chainterminators, these agents are designed to selectively inhibit thepropagation of genomic errors caused by translesion DNA synthesis beyonda mispair. The agents can comprise selective non-natural nucleosidesthat have enhanced binding affinity and faster polymerization to abasicsites on mutagenic DNA than natural nucleosides. The analogs inaccordance with the present invention can target and inhibitpro-mutagenic DNA synthesis, a leading culprit in disease development aswell as in the development of drug resistance.

The agent in accordance with the present invention can comprise anadenine deoxyribose analog that is selectively inserted opposite anabasic site of damaged or mutagenic DNA, behaves as chain terminatorsonce inserted, and is poorly incorporated into unmodified (i.e.,natural) DNA. In an aspect of the invention, the adenine deoxyribosideanalog can have the following formula (I):

where Het is a heterocyclic azaindene analog (e.g., purine analogs orindole analogs) selected from the group consisting of:

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative;

where R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆,R₁₇, and R₁₈, each independently represent substituents selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkyl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl,sulfhydryl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyl (including C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonyl (—CO-alkyl) and C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonyl (—CO-aryl)), acyloxy (—O-acyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl(—(CO)—O-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl (—(CO)—O-aryl), halocarbonyl(—CO)—X where X is halo), C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-alkyl),C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato (—O—CO)—O-aryl), carboxy (—COOH), carboxylato(—COO), carbamoyl (—CO)—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl(—(CO)—NH(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)), di-C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl(—(CO)—N(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)₂), mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl(—(CO)—NH-aryl), thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—NH₂), carbamido (—NH—(CO)—NH₂),cyano(—CN), isocyano (—N⁺C⁻), cyanato (—O—CN), isocyanato (—O—N⁺═C⁻),isothiocyanato (—S—CN), azido (—N═N⁺═N⁻), formyl (—CO)—H), thioformyl(—(CS)—H), amino (—NH₂), mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino,mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido(—NH—(CO)-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ arylamido (—NH—(CO)-aryl), imino (—CR═NH whereR is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, etc.), alkylimino (—CR═N(alkyl), where R=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl,alkaryl, aralkyl, etc.), arylimino (—CR═N(aryl), where R=hydrogen,alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, etc.), nitro (—NO₂), nitroso (—NO), sulfo(—SO₂—OH), sulfonato (—SO₂—O⁻), C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl (—S-alkyl; alsotermed “alkylthio”), arylsulfanyl (—S-aryl; also termed “arylthio”),C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl (—(SO)-alkyl), C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl (—(SO)-aryl),C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl (—SO₂-alkyl), C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl (—SO₂-aryl),phosphono (—P(O)(OH)₂), phosphonato (—P(O)(O⁻)₂), phosphinato(—P(O)(O⁻)), phospho (—PO₂), phosphino (—PH₂) and combinations thereof,and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linkedto form a cyclic structure selected from five-membered rings,six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/or six-membered rings,wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, orheteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that at least one of R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅,R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, R₁₈ is otherthan hydrogen and that where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof.

The phrase “having the formula” or “having the structure” is notintended to be limiting and is used in the same way that the term“comprising” is commonly used.

The term “alkyl” refers to a branched or unbranched saturatedhydrocarbon group typically although not necessarily containing 1 toabout 24 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl,n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, octyl, decyl, and the like, as well ascycloalkyl groups, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like.Generally, although again not necessarily, alkyl groups herein contain 1to about 18 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to about 12 carbon atoms. Theterm “lower alkyl” intends an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms.Substituents identified as “C₁-C₆ alkyl” or “lower alkyl” can contain 1to 3 carbon atoms, and more particularly such substituents can contain 1or 2 carbon atoms (i.e., methyl and ethyl). “Substituted alkyl” refersto alkyl substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms“heteroatom-containing alkyl” and “heteroalkyl” refer to alkyl in whichat least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom, as described infurther detail infra. If not otherwise indicated, the terms “alkyl” and“lower alkyl” include linear, branched, cyclic, unsubstituted,substituted, and/or heteroatom-containing alkyl or lower alkyl,respectively.

The term “alkenyl” refers to a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbongroup of 2 to about 24 carbon atoms containing at least one double bond,such as ethenyl, n-propenyl, isopropenyl, n-butenyl, isobutenyl,octenyl, decenyl, tetradecenyl, hexadecenyl, eicosenyl, tetracosenyl,cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like. Generally,although again not necessarily, alkenyl groups can contain 2 to about 18carbon atoms, and more particularly 2 to 12 carbon atoms. The term“lower alkenyl” refers to an alkenyl group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, andthe specific term “cycloalkenyl” intends a cyclic alkenyl group,preferably having 5 to 8 carbon atoms. The term “substituted alkenyl”refers to alkenyl substituted with one or more substituent groups, andthe terms “heteroatom-containing alkenyl” and “heteroalkenyl” refer toalkenyl or heterocycloalkenyl (e.g., heterocylcohexenyl) in which atleast one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. If not otherwiseindicated, the terms “alkenyl” and “lower alkenyl” include linear,branched, cyclic, unsubstituted, substituted, and/orheteroatom-containing alkenyl and lower alkenyl, respectively.

The term “alkynyl” refers to a linear or branched hydrocarbon group of 2to 24 carbon atoms containing at least one triple bond, such as ethynyl,n-propynyl, and the like. Generally, although again not necessarily,alkynyl groups can contain 2 to about 18 carbon atoms, and moreparticularly can contain 2 to 12 carbon atoms. The term “lower alkynyl”intends an alkynyl group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms. The term “substitutedalkynyl” refers to alkynyl substituted with one or more substituentgroups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing alkynyl” and“heteroalkynyl” refer to alkynyl in which at least one carbon atom isreplaced with a heteroatom. If not otherwise indicated, the terms“alkynyl” and “lower alkynyl” include linear, branched; unsubstituted,substituted, and/or heteroatom-containing alkynyl and lower alkynyl,respectively.

The term “alkoxy” refers to an alkyl group bound through a single,terminal ether linkage; that is, an “alkoxy” group may be represented as—O-alkyl where alkyl is as defined above. A “lower alkoxy” group intendsan alkoxy group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and includes, forexample, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, t-butyloxy, etc.Preferred substituents identified as “C₁-C₆ alkoxy” or “lower alkoxy”herein contain 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and particularly preferred suchsubstituents contain 1 or 2 carbon atoms (i.e., methoxy and ethoxy).

The term “aryl” refers to an aromatic substituent containing a singlearomatic ring or multiple aromatic rings that are fused together,directly linked, or indirectly linked (such that the different aromaticrings are bound to a common group such as a methylene or ethylenemoiety). Aryl groups can contain 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and particularlypreferred aryl groups can contain 5 to 14 carbon atoms. Exemplary arylgroups contain one aromatic ring or two fused or linked aromatic rings,e.g., phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, diphenylether, diphenylamine,benzophenone, and the like. “Substituted aryl” refers to an aryl moietysubstituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms“heteroatom-containing aryl” and “heteroaryl” refer to aryl substituent,in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom, as willbe described in further detail infra. If not otherwise indicated, theterm “aryl” includes unsubstituted, substituted, and/orheteroatom-containing aromatic substituents.

The term “aryloxy” as used herein refers to an aryl group bound througha single, terminal ether linkage, wherein “aryl” is as defined above. An“aryloxy” group may be represented as —O-aryl where aryl is as definedabove. Preferred aryloxy groups contain 5 to 20 carbon atoms, andparticularly preferred aryloxy groups contain 5 to 14 carbon atoms.Examples of aryloxy groups include, without limitation, phenoxy,o-halo-phenoxy, m-halo-phenoxy, p-halo-phenoxy, o-methoxy-phenoxy,m-methoxy-phenoxy, p-methoxy-phenoxy, 2,4-dimethoxy-phenoxy,3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenoxy, and the like.

The term “alkaryl” refers to an aryl group with an alkyl substituent,and the term “aralkyl” refers to an alkyl group with an aryl substituentwherein “aryl” and “alkyl” are as defined above. Exemplary aralkylgroups contain 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and particularly preferred aralkylgroups contain 6 to 16 carbon atoms. Examples of aralkyl groups include,without limitation, benzyl, 2-phenyl-ethyl, 3-phenyl-propyl,4-phenyl-butyl, 5-phenyl-pentyl, 4-phenylcyclohexyl, 4-benzylcyclohexyl,4-phenylcyclohexylmethyl, 4-benzylcyclohexylmethyl, and the like.Alkaryl groups include, for example, p-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl,p-cyclohexylphenyl, 2,7-dimethylnaphthyl, 7-cyclooctylnaphthyl,3-ethyl-cyclopenta-1,4-diene, and the like.

The term “cyclic” refers to alicyclic or aromatic substituents that mayor may not be substituted and/or heteroatom containing, and that may bemonocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic.

The terms “halo” and “halogen” are used in the conventional sense torefer to a chloro, bromo, fluoro or iodo substituent.

The term “heteroatom-containing” as in a “heteroatom-containing alkylgroup” (also termed a “heteroalkyl” group) or a “heteroatom-containingaryl group” (also termed a “heteroaryl” group) refers to a molecule,linkage or substituent in which one or more carbon atoms are replacedwith an atom other than carbon, e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur,phosphorus or silicon, typically nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. Similarly,the term “heteroalkyl” refers to an alkyl substituent that isheteroatom-containing, the term “heterocyclic” refers to a cyclicsubstituent that is heteroatom-containing, the terms “heteroaryl” andheteroaromatic” respectively refer to “aryl” and “aromatic” substituentsthat are heteroatom-containing, and the like. Examples of heteroalkylgroups include alkoxyaryl, alkylsulfanyl-substituted alkyl, N-alkylatedamino alkyl, and the like. Examples of heteroaryl substituents includepyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, pyrimidinyl,imidazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, tetrazolyl, etc., and examples ofheteroatom-containing alicyclic groups are pyrrolidino, morpholino,piperazino, piperidino, etc.

“Hydrocarbyl” refers to univalent hydrocarbyl radicals containing 1 toabout 30 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, morepreferably 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, most preferably about 1 to 12carbon atoms, including linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, andunsaturated species, such as alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups,and the like. “Substituted hydrocarbyl” refers to hydrocarbylsubstituted with one or more substituent groups, and the term“heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl” refers to hydrocarbyl in which atleast one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. Unless otherwiseindicated, the term “hydrocarbyl” is to be interpreted as includingsubstituted and/or heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl moieties.

By “substituted” as in “substituted alkyl,” “substituted aryl,” and thelike, as alluded to in some of the aforementioned definitions, is meantthat in the alkyl, aryl, or other moiety, at least one hydrogen atombound to a carbon (or other) atom is replaced with one or morenon-hydrogen substituents. Examples of such substituents include,without limitation: functional groups such as halo, hydroxyl,sulfhydryl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyl (including C₂-C₄ alkylcarbonyl (—CO-alkyl) and C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonyl (—CO-aryl)), acyloxy (—O-acyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl(—(CO)—O-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl (—(CO)—O-aryl), halocarbonyl(—CO)—X where X is halo), C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-alkyl),C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-aryl), carboxy (—COOH), carboxylato(—COO—), carbamoyl (—(CO)—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substitutedcarbamoyl (—(CO)—NH(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)), di-(C₁-C₄ alkyl)-substitutedcarbamoyl (—(CO)—N(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)₂), mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl(—(CO)—NH-aryl), thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)NH₂), carbamido (—NH—(CO)—NH₂),cyano(—CN), isocyano (—N⁺C⁻), cyanato (—O—CN), isocyanato (—ON⁺C⁻),isothiocyanato (—S—CN), azido (—N═N⁺═N⁻), formyl (—(CO)—H), thioformyl(—(CS)—H), amino (—NH₂), mono- and di-(C₁-C₄ alkyl)-substituted amino,mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido(—NH—(CO)-alkyl), C₆-C₂₀ arylamido (—NH—(CO)-aryl), imino (—CR═NH whereR=hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl,etc.), alkylimino (—CR═N(alkyl), where R=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl,etc.), arylimino (—CR═N(aryl), where R=hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl,etc.), nitro (—NO₂), nitroso (—NO), sulfo (—SO₂—OH), sulfonato(—SO₂—O⁻), C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl (—S-alkyl; also termed “alkylthio”),arylsulfanyl (—S-aryl; also termed “arylthio”), C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl(—(SO)-alkyl), C₁-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl (—SO)aryl), C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl(—SO₂-alkyl), C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl (—SO₂-aryl), phosphono (—P(O)(OH)₂),phosphonato (—P(O)(O⁻)₂), phosphinato (—P(O)(O⁻), phospho (—PO₂), andphosphino (—PH₂); and the hydrocarbyl moieties C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (preferablyC₁-C₁₈ alkyl, more preferably C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, most preferably C₂-C₆alkyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl (preferably C₂-C₁₈ alkenyl, more preferablyC₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, most preferably C₂-C₆ alkenyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl(preferably C₂-C₁₈ alkynyl, more preferably C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, mostpreferably C₂-C₆ alkynyl), C₅-C₂₀ aryl (preferably C₅-C₁₄ aryl),C₆-C₂₄alkaryl (preferably C₆-C₁₈ alkaryl), and C₆-C₄ aralkyl-(preferablyC₆-C₁₈ aralkyl).

In addition, the aforementioned functional groups may, if a particulargroup permits, be further substituted with one or more additionalfunctional groups or with one or more hydrocarbyl moieties such as thosespecifically enumerated above. Analogously, the above-mentionedhydrocarbyl moieties may be further substituted with one or morefunctional groups or additional hydrocarbyl moieties such as thosespecifically enumerated.

When the term “substituted” appears prior to a list of possiblesubstituted groups, it is intended that the term apply to every memberof that group. For example, the phrase “substituted alkyl, alkenyl, andaryl” is to be interpreted as “substituted alkyl, substituted alkenyl,and substituted aryl.” Analogously, when the term“heteroatom-containing” appears prior to a list of possibleheteroatom-containing groups, it is intended that the term apply toevery member of that group. For example, the phrase“heteroatom-containing alkyl, alkenyl, and aryl” is to be interpreted as“heteroatom-containing alkyl, substituted alkenyl, and substitutedaryl.”

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently describedcircumstance may or may not occur, so that the description includesinstances where the circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.For example, the phrase “optionally substituted” means that anon-hydrogen substituent may or may not be present on a given atom, and,thus, the description includes structures wherein a non-hydrogensubstituent is present and structures wherein a non-hydrogen substituentis not present.

When referring to a compound of the invention, applicants intend theterm “compound” to encompass not only the specified molecular entity butalso its pharmaceutically acceptable, pharmacologically active analogs,including, but not limited to, salts, esters, amides, prodrugs,conjugates, active metabolites, and other such derivatives, analogs, andrelated compounds.

By “pharmaceutically acceptable” is meant a material that is notbiologically or otherwise undesirable, i.e., the material may beincorporated into a pharmaceutical composition administered to a patientwithout causing any undesirable biological effects or interacting in adeleterious manner with any of the other components of the compositionin which it is contained. When the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” isused to refer to a pharmaceutical carrier or excipient, it is impliedthat the carrier or excipient has met the required standards oftoxicological and manufacturing testing or that it is included on theInactive Ingredient Guide prepared by the U.S. Food and Drugadministration. “Pharmacologically active” (or simply “active”) as in a“pharmacologically active” derivative or analog, refers to a derivativeor analog having the same type of pharmacological activity as the parentcompound and approximately equivalent in degree.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” orcomplexes refers to salts or complexes of the nucleosides that retainthe desired biological activity of the parent compound and exhibitminimal, if any, undesired toxicological effects. Nonlimiting examplesof such salts are (a) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids(for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid,phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and the like), and salts formed withorganic acids such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinicacid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmoicacid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acids,naphthalenedisulfonic acids, and polygalacturonic acid; (b) baseaddition salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, zinc,calcium, bismuth, barium, magnesium, aluminum, copper, cobalt, nickel,cadmium, sodium; potassium, and the like, or with an organic cationformed from N,N-dibenzylethylene-diamine, ammonium, or ethylenediamine;or (c) combinations of (a) and (b); e.g., a zinc tannate salt or thelike.

The term “prodrug”, as used herein, refers to a compound that isconverted into the nucleoside on administration in vivo. Nonlimitingexamples are pharmaceutically acceptable salts (alternatively referredto as “physiologically acceptable salts”), the 5′-acylated or alkylatedderivatives of the active compound, and the 5′-phospholipid and 5′-etherlipid derivatives of the active compound.

Modifications of the active compounds, specifically at the 5′-Opositions, can affect the bioavailability and rate of metabolism of theactive species, thus providing control over the delivery of the activespecies. An example of such a modification is a 5′-aminoacid ester,including the L-valinyl ester.

In one subclass of therapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyribose analogcan comprise an indolyl deoxyribose analog that is substituted at the4-position, the 5-position, and/or the 6-position of the indole analog,such as shown in the following formula (II):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residude, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative;

where R₄, R₅, and R₆ each independently represent substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl,C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo,hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl,halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy,carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl,thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato,isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- and di-C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino,C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino, alkylimino, arylimino,nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino,and combinations thereof, and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho)substituents may be linked to form a cyclic structure selected fromfive-membered rings, six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/orsix-membered rings, wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic,heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogensubstituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that atleast one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other than hydrogen; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

Examples of indolyl deoxyribose analogs can have the following formula(III):

where R_(t) is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di or triphosphate derivative; and

where R₅ is a halo, (e.g., fluoro), amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl (e.g.,phenyl or napthyl), C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (e.g., ethyl, cyclohexyl), C₂-C₂₄alkenyl (e.g., ethenyl, cyclohexenyl), substituted aryl, substitutedalkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;or a prodrug thereof.

In a further aspect of invention, R₅ can be a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency for insertion of theagent opposite a non-templating DNA lesion. Examples of suchsubstituents include nitro, ethenyl, cyclohexenyl, phenyl, biphenyl, andnapthyl.

The indolyl deoxyribose analogs can be prepared by various syntheticmethods. By way of example, 5-R₅-indolyl-2′deoxyriboside can be preparedby reacting a riboside with 5-R₅-indole as shown in the followingreaction scheme:

In this example, the riboside can be initially mixed and reacted in afirst reaction with (1) HCl/MeOH, (2) toluoyl chloride, pyridine (3)saturated HCl/acetic acid and HCl gas to form1-chloro-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-2-deoxyriboside. The1-chloro-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-2-deoxyriboside can then be reacted with5-R₅-indole (e.g., 5-nitro-indole) and NaOMe/Methanol, at roomtemperature to form 5-R₅-indolyl-2′deoxyriboside.

In another subclass of therapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyriboseanalog can comprise a purine deoxyribose analog that is substituted atthe 2 and 6 position of the purine, such as shown in the followingformula (IV):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residude, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative; and

where R₉ and R₁₀ each independently represent substituents selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, a halo, (e.g., fluoro), an amine, asubstituted amine (HN—CH₃), nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl (e.g., phenyl ornapthyl), C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (e.g., ethyl, cyclohexyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl (e.g.,ethylene, cyclohexene), substituted aryl, substituted alkenyl, carboxyl,or nitro, and where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

In a further subclass of therapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyriboseanalog can comprise a purine deoxyribose analog that is substituted atthe 6 position of the purine analog, such as shown in the followingformula (V):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, arylsulfonyl,aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue, or a mono, di,or triphosphate derivative; and

where R₁₁ is hydrogen, a halo, (e.g., fluoro), an amine, a substitutedamine (HN—CH₃), nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl (e.g., phenyl or napthyl), C₁-C₂₄alkyl (e.g., ethyl, cyclohexyl), C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl (e.g., ethylene,cyclohexene), substituted aryl, substituted alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro;a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

In yet another subclass of therapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyriboseanalog can comprise a purine deoxyribose analog that is substituted atthe 6 position of the purine, such as shown in the following formula(VI):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residude, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative; and

where R₁₅ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halo,(e.g., fluoro), an amine, a substituted amine (HN—CH₃), nitro, C₃-C₂₀aryl (e.g., phenyl or napthyl), C₁-C₂₄ alkyl (e.g., ethyl, cyclohexyl),C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl (e.g., ethylene, cyclohexene), substituted aryl,substituted alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.

In yet another subclass of therapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyriboseanalog can comprise a purine deoxyribose analog that is substituted atthe 6 position of the purine analog, such as shown in the followingformula (VII):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cylclic alkyl, CO-allyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residude, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative; and

The adenine deoxyriboside analogs of formula (I-VII) can be used astherapeutic agents for the treatment of a disorder. When used astherapeutic agents, the adenine deoxyriboside analogs of formula (I-VI)can be conveniently formulated into pharmaceutical formulations composedof one or more of the compounds (i.e., adenine deoxyriboside analogs offormula (I-VII)) in association with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. (See Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19.sup.thEd. (Easton, Pa.: Mack Publishing Co., 1995), which discloses typicalcarriers and conventional methods of preparing pharmaceuticalformulations.)

The term “treatment” refers to reduction in severity and/or frequency ofsymptoms, elimination of symptoms and/or underlying cause, prevention ofthe occurrence of symptoms and/or their underlying cause, andimprovement or remediation of damage. For example, treatment of apatient by administration of a therapeutic agent of the inventionencompasses chemoprevention in a patient susceptible to developingcancer (e.g., at a higher risk, as a result of genetic predisposition,environmental factors, or the like) and/or in cancer survivors at riskof cancer recurrence, as well as treatment of a cancer patient byinhibiting or causing regression of a disorder or disease.

The adenine deoxyriboside analogs of formula (I-VII) can also beadministered as a stabilized nucleotide prodrug to increase theactivity, bioavailability, stability or otherwise alter the propertiesof the nucleoside. A number of nucleotide prodrug ligands are known. Ingeneral, alkylation, acylation or other lipophilic modification of themono, di or triphosphate of the nucleoside will increase the stabilityof the nucleotide. Examples of substituent groups that can replace oneor more hydrogens on the phosphate moiety are alkyl, aryl, steroids,carbohydrates, including sugars, 1,2-diacylglycerol and alcohols. Manyare described in R. Jones and N. Bischofberger, Antiviral Research, 27(1995) 1-17. Any of these can be used in combination with the disclosednucleosides to achieve a desired effect.

In one aspect of the invention, the adenine deoxyriboside analogs offormula (I-VII) can be provided as a 5′-hydroxyl lipophilic prodrug.Nonlimiting examples of U.S. patents that disclose suitable lipophilicsubstituents that can be covalently incorporated into the nucleoside, atthe 5′-OH position of the nucleoside or lipophilic preparations, includeU.S. Pat. No. 5,149,794; U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,654, U.S. Pat. No.5,223,263; U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,641; U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,947; U.S. Pat.No. 5,463,092; U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,389; U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,390; U.S.Pat. No. 5,543,391; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,728, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII) may be administeredorally, parenterally, rectally, vaginally, buccally, sublingually,nasally, by inhalation, topically, transdermally, or via an implantedreservoir in dosage forms containing conventional non-toxicpharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients. The term“parenteral” as used herein is intended to include subcutaneous,intravenous, and intramuscular injection. The amount of the adeninedeoxyriboside analogs of formula (I-VII) administered can, of course, bea therapeutically effective amount and can be dependent on theparticular active agent, the condition or disorder being treated, theseverity of the condition or disorder, the subject's weight, the mode ofadministration and other pertinent factors known to the prescribingphysician. Generally, however, dosage can be in the range ofapproximately 0.001 μg/mL/day to 100 μg/mL/day, more preferably in therange of about 0.1 μg/mL/day to 10 μg/ml/day.

Depending on the intended mode of administration, the pharmaceuticalformulation may be a solid, semi-solid or liquid, such as, for example,a tablet, a capsule, caplets, a liquid, a suspension, an emulsion, asuppository, granules, pellets, beads, a powder, or the like, preferablyin unit dosage form suitable for single administration of a precisedosage. Suitable pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms may beprepared using conventional methods known to those in the field ofpharmaceutical formulation and described in the pertinent texts andliterature, e.g., in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy,cited above.

For those compounds that are orally active, oral dosage forms aregenerally preferred, and include tablets, capsules, caplets, solutions,suspensions and syrups, and may also comprise a plurality of granules,beads, powders or pellets that may or may not be encapsulated. Preferredoral dosage forms are tablets and capsules.

Tablets may be manufactured using standard tablet processing proceduresand equipment. Direct compression and granulation techniques arepreferred. In addition to the active agent, tablets can generallycontain inactive, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier materials such asbinders, lubricants, disintegrants, fillers, stabilizers, surfactants,coloring agents, and the like. Binders are used to impart cohesivequalities to a tablet, and thus ensure that the tablet remains intact.Suitable binder materials include, but are not limited to, starch(including corn starch and pregelatinized starch), gelatin, sugars(including sucrose, glucose, dextrose, and lactose), polyethyleneglycol, waxes, and natural and synthetic gums, e.g., acacia sodiumalginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulosic polymers (includinghydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and the like), and Veegum. Lubricants are used to facilitatetablet manufacture, promoting powder flow and preventing particlecapping (i.e., particle breakage) when pressure is relieved. Usefullubricants are magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid.Disintegrants are used to facilitate disintegration of the tablet, andare generally starches, clays, celluloses, algins, gums, or crosslinkedpolymers. Fillers include, for example, materials such as silicondioxide, titanium dioxide, alumina, talc, kaolin, powdered cellulose,and microcrystalline cellulose, as well as soluble materials such asmannitol, urea, sucrose, lactose, dextrose, sodium chloride, andsorbitol. Stabilizers, as well known in the art, are used to inhibit orretard drug decomposition reactions that include, by way of example,oxidative reactions.

Capsules are also preferred oral dosage forms, in which case the activeagent-containing composition may be encapsulated in the form of a liquidor solid (including particulates such as granules, beads, powders orpellets). Suitable capsules may be either hard or soft, and aregenerally made of gelatin, starch, or a cellulosic material, withgelatin capsules preferred. Two-piece hard gelatin capsules arepreferably sealed, such as with gelatin bands or the like. See, forexample, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, cited supra,which describes materials and methods for preparing encapsulatedpharmaceuticals.

Oral dosage forms, whether tablets, capsules, caplets, or particulates,may, if desired, be formulated so as to provide for gradual, sustainedrelease of the active agent over an extended time period. Generally, aswill be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, sustainedrelease dosage forms are formulated by dispersing the active agentwithin a matrix of a gradually hydrolyzable material such as aninsoluble plastic (e.g. polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene), or ahydrophilic polymer, or by coating a solid, drug-containing dosage formwith such a material. Hydrophilic polymers useful for providing asustained release coating or matrix include, by way of example:cellulosic polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate, and carboxymethylcellulose sodium; acrylicacid polymers and copolymers, preferably formed from acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, acrylic acid alkyl esters, methacrylic acid alkylesters, and the like, e.g. copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and/or ethylmethacrylate; and vinyl polymers and copolymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Preparations according to this invention for parenteral administrationinclude sterile nonaqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions.Examples of nonaqueous solvents or vehicles are propylene glycol,polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils, such as olive oil and corn oil,gelatin, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Parenteralformulations may also contain adjuvants such as preserving, wetting,emulsifying, and dispersing agents. The formulations are renderedsterile by incorporation of a sterilizing agent, filtration through abacteria-retaining filter, irradiation, or heat. They can also bemanufactured using a sterile injectable medium.

The compounds of the invention may also be administered through the skinor mucosal tissue using conventional transdermal drug delivery systems,wherein the active agent is contained within a laminated structure thatserves as a drug delivery device to be affixed to the skin. In such astructure, the drug composition is contained in a layer, or “reservoir,”underlying an upper backing layer. The laminated structure may contain asingle reservoir, or it may contain multiple reservoirs. In oneembodiment, the reservoir comprises a polymeric matrix of apharmaceutically acceptable contact adhesive material that serves toaffix the system to the skin during drug delivery. Alternatively, thedrug-containing reservoir and skin contact adhesive are present asseparate and distinct layers, with the adhesive underlying the reservoirwhich, in this case, may be either a polymeric matrix as describedabove, or it may be a liquid or hydrogel reservoir, or may take someother form. Transdermal drug delivery systems may in addition contain askin permeation enhancer.

Although the present compounds can generally be administered orally,parenterally, or transdermally, other modes of administration aresuitable as well. For example, administration may be rectal or vaginal,preferably using a suppository that contains, in addition to the activeagent, excipients such cocoa butter or a suppository relax. Formulationsfor nasal or sublingual administration are also prepared with standardexcipients well known in the art. The pharmaceutical compositions of theinvention may also be formulated for inhalation, e.g., as a solution insaline, as a dry powder, or as an aerosol.

The adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII) are of value in anumber of methods. In accordance with the present invention, methods of,and uses in, are provided for significantly inhibiting translesion DNAsynthesis without substantially inhibiting normal DNA synthesis. Themethods in accordance with the present invention can comprise contactinga population of cells or tissues that include mutagenic DNA with acomposition comprising a biologically effective amount of at least oneadenine deoxyribose analog of formula (I-VII) under conditions effectiveto promote chain termination of the damaged DNA without substantiallyinhibiting normal DNA synthesis.

Further aspects of the invention include the use of the adeninedeoxyribose analogs of the formula (I-VII) as an antiviral agent. Theadenine deoxyribose analogs of the present invention can be administeredto a population cells or tissue infected with a virus and inhibit orinterfere with viral nucleic acid replication. The adenine deoxyriboseanalogs can be administered by contacting the infected cells with acomposition comprising a biologically effective amount of at least oneadenine deoxyribose analog of formula (I-VII) under conditions effectiveto inhibit viral replication.

Still further methods and uses of the invention are in analyzing thebiological roles of the adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII).In the method, a biological composition or tissue that comprises apopulation of cells that include mutagenic DNA are contacted with acomposition comprising a biologically effective amount of at least of atleast one of the therapeutic agents. The effect of the therapeutic agenton translesion DNA synthesis is then determined.

The foregoing methods and uses can be performed in vitro and in vivo. Inthe latter case, where the tissues or cells are located within ananimal, at least one of the adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula(I-VII) can be administered to the animal as a form of therapy. Wherepopulations of cells with potentially mutagenic DNA are maintained exvivo, the present invention has utility in drug discovery programs.

“Biologically effective amounts”, in terms of each of the foregoinginhibitory methods are therefore amounts of the at least one of adeninedeoxyribose analog of formula (I-VII) effective to inhibit translesionDNA synthesis, without substantially inhibiting normal DNA synthesis;and without being cytotoxic to the cells.

In a further aspect of the invention, the adenine deoxyribose analogs offormula (I-VII) can be used in combination and adjunctive therapies fortreating mammalian diseases, such as in therapies in which potentiallypromutagenic therapeutic agents are administered to treat the disease.

The phrase “combination therapy” embraces the administration of theadenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII), and a therapeutic agentas part of a specific treatment regimen intended to provide a beneficialeffect from the co-action of these therapeutic agents. Administration ofthese therapeutic agents in combination typically is carried out over adefined time period (usually minutes, hours, days or weeks dependingupon the combination selected). “Combination therapy” is intended toembrace administration of these therapeutic agents in a sequentialmanner, that is, wherein each therapeutic agent is administered at adifferent time, as well as administration of these therapeutic agents,or at least two of the therapeutic agents, in a substantiallysimultaneous manner. Substantially simultaneous administration can beaccomplished, for example, by administering to the subject a singlecapsule having a fixed ratio of each therapeutic agent or in multiple,single capsules for each of the therapeutic agents. Sequential orsubstantially simultaneous administration of each therapeutic agent canbe effected by any appropriate route including, but not limited to, oralroutes, intravenous routes, intramuscular routes, and direct absorptionthrough mucous membrane tissues. The therapeutic agents can beadministered by the same route or by different routes. For example, afirst therapeutic agent of the combination selected may be administeredby intravenous injection while the other therapeutic agents of thecombination may be administered orally. Alternatively, for example, alltherapeutic agents may be administered orally or all therapeutic agentsmay be administered by intravenous injection. The sequence in which thetherapeutic agents are administered is not narrowly critical.“Combination therapy” also can embrace the administration of thetherapeutic agents as described above in further combination with otherbiologically active ingredients (such as, but not limited to, a secondand different therapeutic agent) and non-drug therapies (such as, butnot limited to, surgery or radiation treatment). Where the combinationtherapy further comprises radiation treatment, the radiation treatmentmay be conducted at any suitable time so long as a beneficial effectfrom the co-action of the combination of the therapeutic agents andradiation treatment is achieved. For example, in appropriate cases, thebeneficial effect is still achieved when the radiation treatment istemporally removed from the administration of the therapeutic agents,perhaps by days or even weeks.

The phrase “adjunctive therapy” encompasses treatment of a subject withagents that reduce or avoid side effects associated with the combinationtherapy of the present invention, including, but not limited to, thoseagents, for example, that reduce the toxic effect of anticancer drugs,e.g., bone resorption inhibitors, cardioprotective agents; prevent orreduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting associated withchemotherapy, radiotherapy or operation; or reduce the incidence ofinfection associated with the administration of myelosuppressiveanticancer drugs.

The mammalian disease treated by the combination therapy can includeproliferative diseases, such as neoplastic disorders (e.g., leukemia)and autoimmune dysfunctions as well as viral and microbial infections.Besides being useful for human treatment, the combination therapy isalso useful for veterinary treatment of companion animals, exotic andfarm animals, including rodents, horses, dogs, and cats.

In an aspect of the invention, the therapeutic agent administered incombination therapy with the adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula(I-VII) can comprise cytoxic agents that can potentially compromise theintegrity of nucleic acids associated with DNA replication and cellularproliferation (i.e., DNA damaging agents). The adenine deoxyriboseanalogs of formula (I-VII) in accordance with the present invention areselective for damaged DNA and can potentiate the cytotoxic effects ofthe DNA damaging agents. Additionally, since the adenine deoxyriboseanalogs of formula (I-VII) in accordance with the present inventionbehave as chain terminators, they can prevent propagation of genomicerrors caused by the DNA damaging agents and would thus limit thedevelopment of resistance caused by replication of the mutated DNA.Moreover, the use of these therapeutic agents should not affectenzymatic phosphorylation, in contrast to other chain-terminators thathave ribose modifications.

In another aspect of the invention, the therapeutic agents administeredin combination therapy with the adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula(I-VII) m comprise at least one anti-proliferative agent selected hamthe group consisting of a chemotherapeutic agent, an antimetabolite, anantitumorgenic agent, an antimitotic agent, an antiviral agent, anantineoplastic agent, an immunotherapeutic agent, and a radiotherapeuticagent.

The phrase “anti-proliferative agent” can include agents that exertantineoplastic, chemotherapeutic, antiviral, antimitotic,antitumorgenic, and/or immunotherapeutic effects, e.g., prevent thedevelopment, maturation, or spread of neoplastic cells, directly on thetumor cell, e.g., by cytostatic or cytocidal effects, and not indirectlythrough mechanisms such as biological response modification. There arelarge numbers of anti-proliferative agent agents available in commercialuse, in clinical evaluation and in pre-clinical development, which couldbe included in the present invention by combination drug chemotherapy.For convenience of discussion, anti-proliferative agents are classifiedinto the following classes, subtypes and species: ACE inhibitors,alkylating agents, angiogenesis inhibitors, angiostatin,anthracyclines/DNA intercalators, anti-cancer antibiotics orantibiotic-type agents, antimetabolites, antimetastatic compounds,asparaginases, bisphosphonates, cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors,calcium carbonate, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, DHA derivatives, DNAtopoisomerase, endostatin, epipodophylotoxins, genistein, hormonalanticancer agents, hydrophilic bile acids (URSO), immunomodulators orimmunological agents, integrin antagonists, interferon antagonists oragents, MMP inhibitors, miscellaneous antineoplastic agents, monoclonalantibodies, nitrosoureas, NSAIDs, ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors,pBATTs, radio/chemo sensitizers/protectors, retinoids, selectiveinhibitors of proliferation and migration of endotheliai cells,selenium, stromelysin inhibitors, taxanes, vaccines, and vincaalkaloids.

The major categories that some anti-proliferative agents fall intoinclude antimetabolite agents, alkylating agents, antibiotic-typeagents, hormonal anticancer agents, immunological agents,interferon-type agents, and a category of miscellaneous antineoplasticagents. Some anti-proliferative agents operate through multiple orunknown mechanisms and can thus be classified into more than onecategory.

A first family of anti-proliferative agents, which may be used incombination therapy with the adenine deoxyribose analog of formula(I-VII) consists of antimetabolite-type anti-proliferative agents.Antimetabolites are typically reversible or irreversible enzymeinhibitors, or compounds that otherwise interfere with the replication,translation or transcription of nucleic acids. Examples ofantimetabolite antineoplastic agents that may be used in the presentinvention include, but are not limited to acanthifolic acid,aminothiadiazole, anastrozole, bicalutamide, brequinar sodium,capecitabine, carmofur, Ciba-Geigy CGP-30694, cladribine, cyclopentylcytosine, cytarabine phosphate stearate, cytarabine conjugates,cytarabine ocfosfate, Lilly DATHF, Merrel Dow DDFC, dezaguanine,dideoxycytidine, dideoxyguanosine, didox, Yoshitomi DMDC, doxifluridine,Wellcome EHNA, Merck & Co. EX-015, fazarabine, finasteride, floxuridine,fludarabine phosphate, N-(2′-furanidyl)-5-fluorouracil, Daiichi SeiyakuFO-152, fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-FU-fibrinogen, isopropyl pyrrolizine,Lilly LY-188011, Lilly LY-264618, methobenzaprim, methotrexate, WellcomeMZPES, nafarelin, norspermidine, nolvadex, NCI NSC-127716, NCINSC-264880, NCI NSC-39661, NCI NSC-612567, Warner-Lambert PALA,pentostatin, piritrexim, plicamycin, Asahi Chemical PL-AC, stearate;Takeda TAC-788, thioguanine, tiazofurin, Erbamont TIF, trimetrexate,tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors, TaihoUFT, toremifene, and uricytin, all of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,916,800, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

A second family of anti-proliferative agents, which may be used incombination therapy with the analogs of the present invention consistsof alkylating-type anti-proliferative agents. The alkylating agents arebelieved to act by alkylating and cross-linking guanine and possiblyother bases in DNA, arresting cell division. Typical alkylating agentsinclude nitrogen mustards, ethyleneimine compounds, alkyl sulfates,cisplatin, and various nitrosoureas. A disadvantage with these compoundsis that they not only attack malignant cells, but also other cells whichare naturally dividing, such as those of bone marrow, skin,gastro-intestinal mucosa, and fetal tissue. Examples of alkylating-typeanti-proliferative agents that may be used in the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, Shionogi 254-S, aldo-phosphamideanalogues, altretamine, anaxirone, Boehringer Mannheim BBR-2207,bestrabucil, budotitane, Wakunaga CA-102, carboplatin, carmustine(BiCNU), Chinoin-139, Chinoin-153, chlorambucil, cisplatin,cyclophosphamide, American Cyanamid CL-286558, Sanofi CY-233, cyplatate,dacarbazine, Degussa D-19-384, Sumimoto DACHP(Myr)2,diphenylspiromustine, diplatinum cytostatic, Erba distamycinderivatives, Chugai DWA-2114R, ITI E09, elmustine, Erbamont FCE-24517,estramustine phosphate sodium, etoposide phosphate, fotemustine, UnimedG-6-M, Chinoin GYKI-17230, hepsul-fam, ifosfamide, iproplatin,lomustine, mafosfamide, mitolactol, mycophenolate, Nippon Kayaku NK-121,NCI NSC-264395, NCI NSC-342215, oxaliplatin, Upjohn PCNU, prednimustine,Proter PTT-119, ranimustine, semustine, SmithKline SK&F-101772,thiotepa, Yakult Honsha SN-22, spiromus-tine, Tanabe Seiyaku TA-077,tauromustine, temozolomide, teroxirone, tetraplatin and trimelamol.

A third family of anti-proliferative agents that may be used incombination therapy with the analogs of the present invention consistsof antibiotic-type anti-proliferative agents. Examples ofantibiotic-type anti-proliferative agents that may be used in thepresent invention include, but are not limited to Taiho 4181-A,aclarubicin, actinomycin D, actinoplanone, Erbamont ADR-456,aeroplysinin derivative, Ajinomoto AN-201-II, Ajinomoto AN-3, NipponSoda anisomycins, anthracycline, azino-mycin-A, bisucaberin,Bristol-Myers BL-6859, Bristol-Myers BMY-25067, Bristol-Myers BMY-25551,Bristol-Myers BMY-26605, Bristol-Myers BMY-27557, Bristol-MyersBMY-28438, bleomycin sulfate, bryostatin-1, Taiho C-1027, calichemycin,chromoximycin, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, Kyowa Hakko DC-102, KyowaHakko DC-79, Kyowa Hakko DC-88A, Kyowa Hakko DC89-A1, Kyowa HakkoDC92-B, ditrisarubicin B, Shionogi DOB-41, doxorubicin,doxorubicin-fibrinogen, elsamicin-A, epirubicin, erbstatin, esorubicin,esperamicin-A1, esperamicin-A1b, Erbamont FCE-21954, Fujisawa FK-973,fostriecin, Fujisawa FR-900482, glidobactin, gregatin-A, grincamycin,herbimycin, idarubicin, illudins, kazusamycin, kesarirhodins, KyowaHakko KM-5539, Kirin Brewery KRN-8602, Kyowa Hakko KT-5432, Kyowa HakkoKT-5594, Kyowa Hakko KT-6149, American Cyanamid LL-D49194, Meiji SeikaME 2303, menogaril, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, SmithKline M-TAG,neoenactin, Nippon Kayaku NK-313, Nippon Kayaku NKT-01, SRIInternational NSC-357704, oxalysine, oxaunomycin, peplomycin, pilatin,pirarubicin, porothramycin, pyrindamycin A, Tobishi RA-I, rapamycin,rhizoxin, rodorubicin, sibanomicin, siwenmycin, Sumitomo SM-5887, SnowBrand SN-706, Snow Brand SN-07, sorangicin-A, sparsomycin, SSPharmaceutical SS-21020, SS Pharmaceutical SS-7313B, SS PharmaceuticalSS-9816B, steffimycin B, Taiho 4181-2, talisomycin, Takeda TAN-868A,terpentecin, tirazine, tricrozarin A, Upjohn U-73975, Kyowa HakkoUCN-10028A, Fujisawa WF-3405, Yoshitomi Y-25024 and zorubicin.

A fourth family of anti-proliferative agents that may be used incombination therapy with the analogs of the present invention consistsof synthetic nucleosides. Several synthetic nucleosides have beenidentified that exhibit anticancer activity. A well known nucleosidederivative with strong anticancer activity is 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).5-Fluorouracil has been used clinically in the treatment of malignanttumors, including, for example, carcinomas, sarcomas, skin cancer,cancer of the digestive organs, and breast cancer. 5-Fluorouracil,however, causes serious adverse reactions such as nausea, alopecia,diarrhea, stomatitis, leukocytic thrombocytopenia, anorexia,pigmentation, and edema. Derivatives of 5-fluorouracil with anti-canceractivity have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,381, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

A fifth family of anti-proliferative agents that may be used incombination therapy with the analogs of the present invention consistsof hormonal agents. Examples of hormonal-type anti-proliferative agentsthat may be used in the present invention include, but are not limitedto Abarelix; Abbott A-84861; Abiraterone acetate; Aminoglutethimide;anastrozole; Asta Medica AN-207; Antide; Chugai AG-041R; Avorelin;aseranox; Sensus B2036-PEG; Bicalutamide; buserelin; BTG CB-7598; BTGCB-7630; Casodex; cetrolix; clastroban; clodronate disodium; Cosudex;Rotta Research CR-1505; cytadren; clinone; deslorelin; droloxifene;dutasteride; Elimina; Laval University EM-800; Laval University EM-652;epitiostanol; epristeride; Mediolanum EP-23904; EntreMed 2-ME;exemestane; fadrozole; finasteride; flutamide; formestane; Pharmacia &Upjohn FCE-24304; ganirelix; goserelin; Shire gonadorelin agonist; GlaxoWellcome GW-5638; Hoechst Marion Roussel Hoe-766; NCI hCG; idoxifene;isocordoin; Zeneca ICI-182780; Zeneca ICI-118630; Tulane UniversityJ015X; Schering Ag J96; ketanserin; lanreotide; Milkhaus LDI-200;letrozol; leuprolide; leuprorelin; liarozole; lisuride hydrogen maleate;loxiglumide; mepitiostane; Leuprorelin; Ligand Pharmaceuticals LG-1127;LG-1447; LG-2293; LG-2527; LG-2716; Bone Care International LR-103;Lilly LY-326315; Lilly LY-353381-HCl; Lilly LY-326391; Lilly LY-353381;Lilly LY-357489; miproxifene phosphate; Orion Pharma MPV-2213ad; TulaneUniversity MZ-4-71; nafarelin; nilutamide; Snow Brand NKIS01;octreotide; Azko Nobel ORG-31710; Azko Nobel ORG-31806; orimeten;orimetene; orimetine; ormeloxifene; osaterone; Smithkline BeechamSKB-105657; Tokyo University OSW-1; Peptech PTL-03001; Pharmacia &Upjohn PNU-156765; quinagolide; ramorelix; Raloxifene; statin;sandostatin LAR; Shionogi S-10364; Novartis SMT-487; somavert;somatostatin; tamoxifen; tamoxifen methiodide; teverelix; toremifene;triptorelin; TT-232; vapreotide; vorozole; Yamanouchi YM-116; YamanouchiYM-511; Yamanouchi YM-55208; Yamanouchi YM-53789; Schering AGZK-1911703; Schering AG ZK-230211; and Zeneca ZD-182780.

A sixth family of anti-proliferative agents that may be used incombination therapy with the anaologs of the present invention consistsof a miscellaneous family of antineoplastic agents including, but notlimited to alpha-carotene, alpha-difluoromethyl-arginine, acitretin,Biotec AD-5, Kyorin AHC-52, alstonine, amonafide, amphethinile,amsacrine, Angiostat, ankinomycin, anti-neoplaston A10, antineoplastonA2, antineoplaston A3, antineoplaston A5, antineoplaston AS2-1, HenkelAPD, aphidicolin glycinate, asparaginase, Avarol, baccharin, batracylin,benfluoron, benzotript, Ipsen-Beaufour BIM-23015, bisantrene,Bristo-Myers BMY-40481, Vestar boron-10, bromofosfamide, WellcomeBW-502, Wellcome BW-773, calcium carbonate, Calcet, Calci-Chew,Calci-Mix, Roxane calcium carbonate tablets, caracemide, carmethizolehydrochloride, Ajinomoto CDAF, chlorsulfaquinoxalone, Chemes CHX-2053,Chemex CHX-100, Warner-Lambert CI-921, Warner-Lambert CI-937,Warner-Lambert CI-941, Warner-Lambert CI-958, clarifenur, claviridenone,ICN compound 1259, ICN compound 4711, Contracan, Cell Pathways CP-461,Yakult Honsha CPT-11, crisnatol, curaderm, cytochalasin B, cytarabine,cytocytin, Merz D-609, DABIS maleate, dacarbazine, datelliptinium, DFMO,didemnin-B, dihaematoporphyrin ether, dihydrolenperone, dinaline,distamycin, Toyo Pharmar DM-341, Toyo Pharmar DM-75, Daiichi SeiyakuDN-9693, docetaxel, Encore Pharmaceuticals E7869, elliprabin,elliptiniurn acetate, Tsumura EPMTC, ergotamine, etoposide, etretinate,Eulexin®, Cell Pathways Exisulind® (sulindac sulphone or CP-246),fenretinide, Merck Research Labs Finasteride, Florical, FujisawaFR-57704, gallium nitrate, gemcitabine, genkwadaphnin, Gerimed, ChugaiGLA-43, Glaxo GR-63178, grifolan NMF-5N, hexadecylphosphocholine, GreenCross HO-221, homoharringtonine, hydroxyurea, BTG ICRF-187, ilmofosine,irinotecan, isoglutamine, isotretinoin, Otsuka JI-36, Ramot K-477,ketoconazole, Otsuak K-76COONa, Kureha Chemical K-AM, MECT Corp KI-8110,American Cyanamid L-623, leucovorin, levamisole, leukoregulin,lonidamine, Lundbeck LU-23-112, Lilly LY-186641, Materna, NCI (US) MAP,marycin, Merrel Dow MDL-27048, Medco MEDR-340, megestrol, merbarone,merocyanine derivatives, methylanilinoacridine, Molecular GeneticsMGI-136, minactivin, mitonafide, mitoquidone, Monocal, mopidamol,motretinide, Zenyaku Kogyo MST-16, Mylanta, N-retinoyl)amino acids,Nilandron; Nisshin Flour Milling N-021, N-acylated-dehydroalanines,nafazatrom, Taisho NCU-190, Nephro-Calci tablets, nocodazole derivative,Normosang, NCI NSC-145813, NCI NSC-361456, NCI NSC-604782, NCINSC-95580, octreotide, Ono ONO-112, oquizanocine, Akzo Org-10172,paclitaxel, pancratistatin, pazelliptine, Warner-Lambert PD-111707,Warner-Lambert PD-115934, Warner-Lambert PD-131141, Pierre FabrePE-1001, ICRT peptide D, piroxantrone, polyhaematoporphyrin, polypreicacid, Efamol porphyrin, probimane, procarbazine, proglumide, Invitronprotease nexin I, Tobishi RA-700, razoxane, retinoids, EncorePharmaceuticals R-flurbiprofen, Sandostatin; Sapporo Breweries RBS,restrictin-P, retelliptine, retinoic acid, Rhone-Poulenc RP-49532,Rhone-Poulenc RP-56976, Scherring-Plough SC-57050, Scherring-PloughSC-57068, seienium(selenite and selenomethionine), SmithKlineSK&F-104864, Sumitomo SM-108, Kuraray SMANCS, SeaPharm SP-10094, spatol,spirocyclopropane derivatives, spirogermanium, Unimed, SS PharmaceuticalSS-554, strypoldinone, Stypoldione, Suntory SUN 0237, Suntory SUN 2071,Sugen SU-101, Sugen SU-5416, Sugen SU-6668, sulindac, sulindac sulfone;superoxide dismutase, Toyama T-506, Toyama T-680, taxol, TeijinTEI-0303, teniposide, thaliblastine, Eastman Kodak TJB-29, tocotrienol,Topostin, Teijin TT-82, Kyowa Hakko UCN-01, Kyowa Hakko UCN-1028,ukrain, Eastman Kodak USB-006, vinblastine sulfate, vincristine,vindesine, vinestramide, vinorelbine, vintriptol, vinzolidine,withanolides, Yamanouchi YM-534, Zileuton, ursodeoxycholic acid, andZanosar.

The foregoing treatment methods and uses can generally involve theadministration of a pharmaceutically effective composition of theadenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII) to the animal or patientsystemically, such as by transdermal, intramuscular, intravenousinjection and the like. However, any route of administration that allowsthe therapeutic agent to localize to the site or sites of the cells,which are being treated by the DNA damaging agent can be acceptable.Therefore, other suitable routes of delivery include oral, rectal,nasal, topical, and vaginal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,291, is incorporatedherein by reference for purposes including further describing thevarious routes of administration that may be included in connection withthe treatment of an angiogenic disease or disorder. For conditionsassociated with the eye, ophthalmic formulations and administration arecontemplated.

“Administration”, as used herein, means provision or delivery of theadenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I) therapeutic agents in anamount(s) and for a period of time(s) effective to inhibit translesionDNA synthesis.

The “therapeutically effective amounts” for use in the invention areamounts adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII) effective toinhibit translesion DNA synthesis and to potentiate the cytotoxiceffects of the DNA damaging agent. Such effects are achieved withoutsubstantially inhibiting normal DNA synthesis in normal, healthy cellsor tissues; and exerting negligible or manageable adverse side effectson normal, healthy cell or tissues of the animal or patient.

The adenine deoxyribose analogs of formula (I-VII) in accordance withthe present invention can allow the combination therapeutic agents andtherapies of the present invention to be administered at a low dose,that is, at a dose lower than has been conventionally used in clinicalsituations.

A benefit of lowering the dose of the combination therapeutic agents andtherapies of the present invention administered to a mammal includes adecrease in the incidence of adverse effects associated with higherdosages. For example, by the lowering the dosage of a chemotherapeuticagent such as methotrexate, a reduction in the frequency and theseverity of nausea and vomiting will result when compared to thatobserved at higher dosages. Similar benefits are contemplated for thecompounds, compositions, agents and therapies in combination with theinhibitors of the present invention.

By lowering the incidence of adverse effects, an improvement in thequality of life of a patient undergoing treatment for cancer iscontemplated. Further benefits of lowering the incidence of adverseeffects include an improvement in patient compliance, a reduction in thenumber of hospitalizations needed for the treatment of adverse effects,and a reduction in the administration of analgesic agents needed totreat pain associated with the adverse effects.

Alternatively, the methods and combination of the present invention canalso maximize the therapeutic effect at higher doses.

When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents can beformulated as separate compositions which are given at the same time ordifferent times, or the therapeutic agents can be given as a singlecomposition.

In a still a further aspect of the invention, the adenine deoxyriboseanalogs of formula (I-VII) can be used as diagnostic agents to monitorthe formation of DNA damage by anti-neoplastic agents and/orchemotherapeutic agents. By way of example, adenine deoxyribose analogshaving fluorescent properties, such as 5-PHITP, can be used as anon-invasive probe in flow cytometry techniques to monitor the formationof DNA damage caused by chemotherapeutic agents.

Flow cytometry provides a way to measure the biochemical properties ofthousands of individual cells in a liquid suspension. The speed at whicha flow cytometer can do this is unparalleled, counting as many as 15,000cells/sec while still looking at each cell individually. Histograms canalso be used to display data from flow cytometry experiments. In theseplots the X-axis shows the intensity of the detected signal and theY-axis measures the number of events (cells) counted. Histograms oftendisplay the output of two (or more) samples using a single fluorochrome.In an experiment determining the presence or absence of a particularcell marker or a relative increase or decrease of a marker afterexperimental treatment, a histogram shows the shift in the fluorescenceintensity of the sampled cells.

In a diagnostic method using an adenine deoxyribose analog havingfluorescent properties, such as 5-PHITP, a patient receives a fixed doseof anti-neoplastic or chemotherapeutic agent(s). After a fixed period oftime, an aliquot of blood is removed. This sample is treated with theadenine deoxyribose analog having fluorescent properties, such as5-PHITP, and analyzed by flow cytometry techniques to determine theamount of the adenine deoxyribose analog that has been incorporated intothe DNA of all cells. The amount of nucleotide incorporation is directlycorrelated with the amount of DNA damaged caused by the initialtreatment of chemotherapeutic agent. Based upon results of this assay,the clinician will be able to rationally modify the dose based uponempirical evidence of DNA damage. The speed of this assay will allow theclinician to rapidly modify the dose to improve the likelihood of a goodpatient response.

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodimentsof the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the artthat the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow representtechniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practiceof the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferredmodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, inlight of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can bemade in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain alike or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 The Use of Nonnatural Nucleotides to Probe theContributions of Shape Complementarity and or π-Electron Surface AreaDuring DNA Polymerization

Hydrogen-bonding, base-stacking, and solvation/desolvation contributionsplay significant roles in maintaining the stability of nucleic acid.Perhaps the most elusive question in nucleic acid metabolism is theextent to which each of these molecular forces is efficiently utilizedby DNA polymerases during replication. The individual contributions ofthese forces during the polymerization process have been difficult todissect due to the paradoxical nature of the nucleobases that composeDNA. Specifically, in addition to base-stacking capabilities, eachnucleobase contains functional groups capable of hydrogen-bondinteractions with water as well as with other acceptor-donor groups onother nucleobases.

Several laboratories have attempted to deconvolute this paradox bymonitoring the kinetics of insertion of nonnatural nucleosides devoid ofclassical hydrogen bonding groups. The collective results of thesestudies indicate that the presence of hydrogen-bonding groups is not anabsolute requirement for the stable incorporation of a nonnaturalnucleobase into DNA. In most instances, a nonnatural nucleoside ispreferentially inserted opposite the complementarity partner of itsisosteric progenitor. This kinetic phenomenon was originally interpretedto reflect the contributions of geometrical constraints of the formedbase pair. However, other molecular forces such as base stacking anddesolvation cannot be eliminated since they also play significant rolesduring DNA polymerization,

To evaluate the contributions of these parameters, we have examined thedynamics of nucleoside insertion opposite an abasic site, anontemplating DNA lesion devoid of classical hydrogen-bonding potentialas well as normal size/shape constraints. Many DNA polymerases such asthe eukaryotic polymerases pol α and pot 3, the Klenow fragment from E.coli, HIV reverse transcriptase, and gp43 from bacteriophage T4preferentially insert dAMP (and dGMP to a lesser extent) opposite anabasic site. An attractive mechanism to explain this kinetic phenomenonis that polymerization efficiency is influenced more by the basestackingcapabilities of the incoming dNTP rather than its size or shape. Thevalidity of this hypothesis has been strengthened by the favorableenzymatic insertion of 5-NIMP opposite an abasic site. Although5-nitro-1-indolyl-2′-deoxyribose-5′-triphosphate (5-NITP) does notpossess “classical” hydrogen-bonding acceptor/donor groups, it hasenhanced base-stacking capabilities compared to natural dNTPs.Remarkably, the catalytic efficiency for 5-NIMP insertion opposite thelesion is 1000-fold greater than that measured for the insertion ofdAMP. The nitro moiety appears to play an important role sincereplacement with —H reduces the catalytic efficiency for nucleosideinsertion by ˜2300-fold. Although binding affinity is perturbedslightly, the major effect of this substitution is the 450-foldreduction in the rate of the conformational change step that correspondsto a change in relative free energy (ΔΔG) of 3.62 kcal/mol. Thisenergetic difference was proposed to arise through base-stackinginteractions mediated between the overlapping π-electron densities ofthe conjugated indole nucleoside with the polymerase and DNA. However,other forces such as desolvation as well as size and shapecomplementarity cannot be unambiguously refuted based solely upon thesedata.

We have further evaluated the contribution of base stacking,desolvation, shape, and dipole moment toward translesion DNA synthesisby measuring the insertion of various 5-substitutedindolyl-2′-deoxyribose triphosphates displayed in FIG. 1A. Of theanalogues examined, 5-phenyl-indolyl-2′-deoxyribose triphosphatedisplays the highest catalytic efficiency for insertion opposite theabasic site. The generated structure-activity relationships provideevidence that π-electron surface area rather than size, shape, ordesolvation capabilities is the most important factor for insertionopposite an abasic lesion. When tested for insertion opposite templatingnucleobases, the expected correlation between insertion efficiency andshape complementarity of the formed base pair is not observed.Collectively, these results suggest that steric fit plays a minimal roleduring polymerization catalyzed by the bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase.

Methods and Materials Materials

[γ-³²P]ATP was purchased from M. P. Biomedical (Irvine, Calif.).Unlabeled dNTPs (ultrapure) were obtained from Pharmacia. Magnesiumacetate and Trizma base were from Sigma. Urea, acrylamide, andbisacrylamide were from Aldrich. Oligonucleotides, including thosecontaining a tetrahydrofuran moiety mimicking an abasic site, weresynthesized by Operon Technologies (Alameda, Calif.). Single-strandedand duplex DNA were purified and quantified. All other materials wereobtained from commercial sources and were of the highest availablequality. The exonuclease-deficient mutant of gp43 (Asp-219 to Alamutation) was purified and quantified.

Tributylammonium pyrophosphate was purchased from Sigma.5-Fluoro-indole,1-chloro-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-erythro-pentofuranose, ethylacetate, hexane, methanol, dichloromethane, phosphoryl oxychloride,dimethyl formamide, and tributylamine were purchased from ACROS.Trimethyl phosphate and tributylamine were dried over 4 Å molecularsieves. DMF was distilled from ninhydrin and stored in 4 Å molecularsieves.

All NMR spectra were record in a Gemini-300 FT NMR spectrometer. Protonchemical shifts are reported in ppm downfield from tetramethylsilane.Coupling constants (J) are reported in hertz (Hz). ³¹P NMR spectra weretaken in D₂O in the presence of 50 mM Tris (pH 7.5) and 2 mM EDTA.Phosphoric acid (85%) was used as external standard. Ultravioletquantification of triphosphate was performed on Beckman DU-70.High-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (negative) was performedon Ionspec HiRES ESI-FTICRMS at the University of Cincinnati.

Synthesis of 5-Fluoro-indole-2′-deoxyribofuranoside 5′-Triphosphate(5-FITP)

The 5-fluoro-indole-2′-deoxynucleoside was converted to the triphosphateform first by reaction with phosphoryl oxychloride in the presence ofproton sponge and trimethyl phosphate. After 2 h, the reaction wassimultaneously treated with a 0.5 M solution of tributylammoniumpyrophosphate and tributylamine in dimethyl formamide, The desiredcompound was purified by semipreparative reverse-phase HPLC (300 poresize C-18 column from Vydac, 10 mm×250 mm) with mobile phase bufferA=0.1 M TEAB and buffer B=35% ACN in 0.1 M TEAB, using a linear gradientfrom 45% to 80% B within 18 min at a flow rate of 2.3 mL/min. Thedesired triphosphate was eluted at 73% B (14 min retention time). Afterconcentration and evaporation, the final product was dissolved andstored in 10 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.5, and 1 mM EDTA. The concentration wasdetermined using an extinction coefficient of 6142 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for the freenucleoside. The yield of phosphorylation was 20%.1-(3,5-Di-O-p-toluoyl-2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-fluoro-indole:H NMR (DMSO) 2.37 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.40 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.69 (1H, m, 2′-H),2.96 (1H, m, 2′-H), 4.45-4.65 (3H, m, 5′-H, 4′-H), 5.60-5.70 (1H, m,3′-H), 6.51 (1H, d, J) 3.3 Hz, 3-H), 6.59 (1H, t, J) 6.0 Hz, 1′-H),6.87-6.94 (1H, m, Ar), 7.30-7.38 (5H, m, Ar), 7.66-7.70 (2H, m, Ar),7.88 (2H, d, J) 8 Hz, Ar), 7.99 (2H, d, J) 8 Hz, Ar).1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-fluoro-indole: NMR (DMSO) 2.25(1H, m, 2′-H), 2.55 (1H, m, 2′-H), 3.45-3.55 (2H, m, 5′-H), 3.83-3.88(1H, m, 4′-H), 4.32-4.34 (1H, m, 3′-H), 4.90 (1H, m, 5′-OH), 5.30 (1H,m, 3′-OH), 6.34 (1H, t, J) 6.9 Hz, 1′-H), 6.45 (1H, d, J) 3.4 Hz, 3-H),6.90 (1H, m, Ar), 7.32 (1H, m, Ar), 7.57-7.66 (2H, m, Ar).1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythropentafuranosyl)-5-fluoro-indole triphosphate(5-FITP): ³¹P NMR (ppm) (D₂O/Tris/EDTA) γ-P −5.75 (d); α-P −10.22 (d);β-P −21.50 (t). HiRes ESI-MS (−): Calculated mass spec (formulaC₁₃H₁₆FNO₁₂P₃ for M-H)=489.9869. Experimental mass spec=490.0164.

Synthesis of 5-Phenyl-indole-2′-Deoxyribofuranoside 5′-Triphosphate(5-PhITP)

5-Phenyl-indole was synthesized using established protocols.1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythropentafuranosyl)-5-phenyl-indole was prepared bythe method described for deprotection of fluoro-indole nucleoside. Theoverall yield of the reaction was 70%.1-(2-Deoxy-β-Derythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-phenyl-indole triphosphate(PhITP) was prepared starting with 5-phenyl-indole-2′-deoxynucleoside;The residue was purified by preparative reverse phase HPLC (300 poresize C-18 column from Vydac, 22 mm, 250 mm) with mobile phase bufferA=0.1 M TEAB and buffer B=35% ACN in 0.1 M TEAB. The reaction mixturewas purified using 80% B without gradient. The product was eluted at 24min retention time with a flow rate of 4.5 mL/min. The final product wasdissolved and stored in 10 ml Tris HCl, pH 7.5. The concentration ofnucleotide was determined using the extinction coefficient of 35 379 M⁻¹cm⁻¹ determined for the free nucleoside.1-(3,5-Di-O-p-toluoyl-2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-phenyl-indole:H NMR (CDCl₃) 2.41, (3H, s, CH₃), 2.45 (3H, s, CH₃), 2.70 (1H, m, 2′-H),2.78 (1H, m, 2′-H), 4.5-4.65 (3H, m, 5′-H, 4′-H), 5.72 (1H, m, 3′-H),6.58 (1H, d, J) 3.3 Hz, 3-H), 6.62 (1H, t, J) 7.2 Hz, 1′-H), 7.31-7.50(8H, m, Ar), 7.60-8.06 (9H, m, Ar).1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-phenyl-indole: H NMR (DMSO)2.25 (1H, m, 2′-H), 2.55 (1H, m, 2′-H), 3.52-3.62 (2H, m, 5′-H),3.83-3.88 (1H, m, 4-H), 4.34-4.41 (1H, m, 3′-H), 4.90 (1H, t, J) 5 Hz,5″-OH), 5.30 (1H, d, J) 4 Hz, 3′-OH), 6.40 (1H, t, J) 6.2 Hz, 1′-H),6.56 (1H, d, J) 3.3 Hz, 3-H), 7.30-7.33 (1H, m, Ar), 7.41-7.45 (3H, m,Ar), 7.61-7.67 (4H, m, Ar), 7.81 (1H, d, J) 2 Hz, Ar).1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-phenyl-indole triphosphate(PhITP) ³¹P NMR (ppm) (D₂O/Tris/EDTA) γ-P −5.65 (d); α-P −10.35 (d); β-P−21.46 (t). HiRes ESI-MS (−): Calculated mass spec (formulaC₁₉H₂₁N₁O₁₂P₃ for M-H)=548.0277. Experimental mass spec=548.0242.

Synthesis of 5-Amino-Indole-2′-Deoxyribofuranoside 5″-Triphosphate(5-AITP)

Amino-indole triphosphate was prepared from 5-nitro-indole triphosphateby hydrogenation reaction. The extinction coefficient for 5-amino-indoleis 5830 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 270 nm.

Enzyme Assays.

The assay buffer used in all kinetic studies consisted of 25 mM Tris-OAc(pH 7.5), 150 mM KOAc, and 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. All assays wereperformed at 25° C. Polymerization reactions were monitored by analysisof the products on 20% sequencing gels. Gel images were obtained with aPackard PhosphorImager using the OptiQuant software supplied by themanufacturer. Product formation was quantified by measuring the ratio of³²P-labeled extended and nonextended primer. The ratios of productformation are corrected for substrate in the absence of polymerase (zeropoint). Corrected ratios are then multiplied by the concentration ofprimer/template used in each assay to yield total product. Allconcentrations are listed as final solution concentrations.

The kinetic parameters, k_(cat), K_(m), and k_(cat)/K_(m), for eachnonnatural nucleotide were obtained by monitoring the rate of productformation using a fixed amount of gp43 (50 nM) and DNA substrate (1000nM) at varying concentrations of nucleotide triphosphate (0.01-1 mM).Aliquots of the reaction were quenched into 0.5 M EDTA, pH 7.4, at timesranging from 5 to 600 s. Samples were diluted 1:1 with sequencing gelloading buffer and products were analyzed for product formation bydenaturing gel electrophoresis. In all cases, steady-state rates wereobtained from the linear portion of the time course. Data obtained forsteady-state rates in DNA polymerization measured underpseudo-first-order reaction conditions were fit to eq 1:

y=mt+b  (1)

where m is the slope of the line, b is the y-intercept, and t is time.The slope of the line is equivalent to the rate of the reaction, v, andhas units of nM/s. Data for the dependency of v as a function of dXTPconcentration were fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation:

v=V _(max) [dXTP]/K _(m) +[dXTP]  (2)

where v is the rate of the reaction, V_(max) is the maximal velocity,K_(m) is the Michaelis constant for dXTP, and [dXTP] is theconcentration of nonnatural nucleotide substrate. K_(cat) is defined asV_(max)/[gp43].

Pre-Steady-State Nucleotide Incorporation Assays.

A rapid quench instrument (KinTek Corporation, Clarence, Pa.) was usedto monitor the time course in 5-PhIMP insertion using 13/20SP-mer or13/20T-mer as the DNA substrate. A preincubated solution of 75 nM gp43exo⁻ polymerase and 2000 nM 5′-labeled DNA (final concentrations) wasmixed with an equal volume of a solution containing 10 mM magnesiumacetate and 10 μM 5-PhITP (final concentrations) in the same reactionbuffer. The reaction was then terminated at various times by theaddition of 350 mM EDTA. Polymerization products were analyzed asdescribed above. Data for each time course were fit to eq 3 defining aburst in product formation followed by a steady-state rate.

y=Ae ^(−kt) +Bt+C  (3)

where A is the burst amplitude, k is the observed rate constant forinitial product formation, B is the steady-state rate, t is time, and Cis a defined constant.

In some instances, experiments were performed using single turnoverreaction conditions. One thousand nanomolar gp43 exo⁻ was incubated with250 nM DNA in assay buffer containing EDTA (100 μM) and mixed withvariable concentrations of nucleotide analogue (5-500 μM) and 10 mMmagnesium acetate. The reactions were quenched with 500 mM EDTA atvariable times (0.005-10 s) and analyzed as described above. Dataobtained for single turnover DNA polymerization assays were fit to eq 4.

y=Ae ^(−kt) +C  (4)

where A is the burst amplitude, k is the observed rate constant forinitial product formation, t is time, and C is a defined constant. Datafor the dependency of k_(obs) as a function of dNTP concentration wasfit to the Michaelis-Menten equation (eq 2) to provide valuescorresponding to k_(pol) and K_(D).

TABLE 1 Summary of Kinetic Rate and Equilibrium Constants Measured forthe Insertion of 5-Substituted Indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside TriphosphatesOpposite an Abasic Site k_(pol) K_(D) k_(pol)/K_(D) analogue (s⁻¹) (μM)(M⁻¹ s⁻¹) 5-PhITP^(a) 53 ± 4  14 ± 3 3.8 × 10⁶ 5-FITP^(b) 0.30 ± 0.03152 ± 41 2.0 × 10³ 5-AITP^(b) 0.17 ± 0.01 255 ± 43 0.7 × 10³ 5-NITP^(c)126 ± 6  18 ± 3 7.0 × 10⁶ IndTP^(d) 0.28 ± 0.07 145 ± 10 1.9 × 10³^(a)The kinetic parameters, k_(pol), K_(D), and k_(pol)/K_(D), wereobtained under single turnover conditions using 1 μM gp43exo−, 250 nM13/20SPmer, and 10 mM Mg²⁺ at varying concentrations of nonnaturalnucleotide triphosphate (0.0025-0.100 mM). ^(b)The kinetic parameterswere obtained under pseudo-first-order reaction conditions using 50 nMgp43exo−, 1 μM 13/20SP-mer, and 10 mM Mg²⁺ at varying concentrations ofnonnatural nucleotide triphosphate (0.01-1 mM).

Results Steady-State Kinetic Parameters for Insertion Opposite an AbasicSite.

The kinetic parameters, k_(pol), K_(D), and k_(pol)/K_(D) for eachsubstituted indole triphosphate during incorporation opposite an abasicsite were obtained by monitoring the rate of product formation atvarying nucleotide concentrations (0.01-1 mM). Using 5-FITP and 5-AITP,we obtained linear rates in product formation at all concentrationstested. Extrapolation of the time course back to time zero does notreveal a burst in primer elongation under pseudo-first-order reactionconditions (FIG. 2). Furthermore, burst kinetics were not observed usinga higher concentration of gp43 (100 or 200 nM (data not shown)). Thelack of an observed “burst” in product formation underpseudo-first-order reaction conditions suggests that phosphoryl transferor a kinetic step prior to phosphoryl transfer is rate-limiting forenzyme turnover. Regardless, the measured rates of nucleotideincorporation were plotted as a function of dXTP concentration anddisplayed saturation kinetics (data not shown). Values of k_(pol),K_(D), and k_(pol)/K_(D) were obtained from the fit of the data to theMichaelis-Menten equation and are summarized in Table 1.

Linear rates in product formation were also observed with 5-PhITP as thenonnatural analogue. However, an apparent burst in primer elongation wasobserved when 5-PhIMP is inserted opposite the nontemplating lesion(FIG. 2). Both the burst in primer elongation and the steady-state ratein product formation were independent of 5-PhITP concentration (data notshown). Collectively, these data are consistent with a mechanism inwhich a kinetic step after phosphoryl transfer is rate-limiting forenzyme turnover.

Transient Kinetic Analysis of 5-PhITP Incorporation Opposite an AbasicSite.

The results of the manual quenching experiments suggest that theincorporation of 5-PhITP opposite the abasic site is extremely rapid.Therefore, experiments were performed using a rapid-quench instrument tounequivocally detect the presence of a “burst” in primer elongation. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the time course for 5-PhITP incorporationopposite an abasic site is biphasic as characterized by a rapid initialburst in 14-mer formation followed by a second, slower phase in primerelongation. The second, linear phase of the time course representsrelease of gp43 from extended DNA and subsequent turnover of remaining13/20SP-mer. When 5 μM 5-PhITP is used, the observed rate constant ofthe burst phase is 9.1±2.1 s⁻¹ while the k_(cat) value is 2.2 (0.5 s⁻¹.The amplitude of the burst phase is equal to the amount of gp43 used inthe reaction (75 nM). The detection of a stoichiometric burst even atlow concentrations of 5-PhITP suggests that the nonnatural nucleotidebinds very tightly to the polymerase/DNA complex such that thegp43/DNA/5-PhITP complex partitions to product (gp43+DNA_(n+1)+PP_(i))rather than collapsing back to gp43/DNA+5-PhITP. Alternatively, thestoichiometric burst amplitude can be explained if the phosphoryltransfer step is favorable such that nucleotide binding andincorporation are driven to completion. To evaluate these potentialmechanisms, the kinetic dissociation constant, K_(D), as well themaximal polymerization rate, k_(pol), for the insertion of 5-PhIMP weremeasured.

Measurements of k_(pol) and K_(D) for 5-PhITP Incorporation Opposite anAbasic Site.

Single turnover conditions were then employed to accurately measure theK_(D) and k_(pol) values for the insertion of 5-PhIMP opposite theabasic site. Since the concentration of polymerase is maintained inexcess versus DNA substrate, these experiments alleviate complicationsarising from any kinetic step after phosphoryl transfer. This allows forthe measurement of the kinetic steps reflecting initial ground statebinding of 5-PhITP, the conformational change prior to phosphoryltransfer, and phosphoryl transfer itself. All time courses weregenerated using a rapid quench instrument.

Representative data for the concentration dependency of 5-PhITP on therate constant in primer elongation are presented in FIG. 4A. All timecourses were fit to the equation for a single-exponential process todefine k_(obs), the rate constant in product formation. The plot ofk_(obs) versus 5-PhITP concentration is hyperbolic (FIG. 4B) from whichvalues of k_(pol)=53±4 s⁻¹ and K_(D 5-PhITP)=14±3 μM were obtained. Itwas observed earlier that when 5 μM 5-PhITP was used, a burst rate(k_(obs)) of 9 s⁻¹ was measured for incorporation opposite the abasicsite under pseudo-first-order reaction conditions. This value issignificantly less than the reported k_(pol) value of 53 s⁻¹ measuredusing single turnover reaction conditions. The lower value of 9 s⁻¹reflects the fact that the concentration of 5 μM 5-PhITP is below theK_(D) value of 5-PhITP. To validate this conclusion as well as todemonstrate consistency between experiments performed usingpseudo-first-order versus single turnover conditions, we applied theserate and dissociation constants to the Michealis-Menten equation(k_(obs)=k_(pol[)5-PhITP]/(K_(D)+[5-PHITP])). Using a k_(pol) value of53 s⁻¹ and a K_(D) of 14 μM, we calculate that the k_(obs) value using 5μM 5-PhITP is 14 s⁻¹ and is in good accord with the measured value of 9s⁻¹ measured independently under pseudo-first-order reaction conditions,Values are summarized in Table 1.

The Effects of Acid Versus EDTA Quenching on the Kinetics of 5-PhITPIncorporation Opposite an Abasic Site

We argue that the increase in the k_(pol) value represents anenhancement in the conformational change step prior to phosphoryltransfer. However, it is also possible that the phosphoryl transfer stepis rate-limiting for the incorporation of the nonnatural nucleotideopposite the abasic site. To evaluate this possibility further, timecourses in 5-PhITP incorporation were generated under single turnoverconditions using either a nondenaturing quench (EDTA) or a denaturingagent (hydrochloric acid). Differences in the amount of productformation can be observed using these quenching agents since EDTA stopsthe reaction only after a full catalytic cycle while hydrochloric acidkills all enzyme forms that accumulate along the reaction pathway.According to FIG. 5, these enzyme forms include E:DNA, E:DNA:dXTP, andE′:DNA:dXTP that can accumulate before the chemical step. Therefore, areduced burst amplitude in product formation should be observed usingthe denaturing quench if the phosphoryl transfer step is rate-limitingfor incorporation. As shown in FIG. 6, time courses generated for theincorporation of 30 μM 5-PhITP opposite the abasic site are nearlyidentical with either quenching agent. In both cases, the rate constantsfor incorporation are essentially identical (37.4 (1 s⁻¹ with EDTAversus 38.4 (2.1 s⁻¹ with HCl). However, there is an 8.3% difference inburst amplitudes that is dependent upon the nature of the quenchingagent. When EDTA is used, the burst amplitude is 240±6 nM while thatwhen HCl is used is 220±3 nM. The potential significance of this slightdifference on identification of the rate-limiting step in nucleotideincorporation is discussed later.

Kinetic Parameters for Insertion Opposite Templating Nucleobases.

Values for k_(pol), K_(D), and k_(pol)/K_(D) were also measured for theincorporation of 5-PhITP, 5-FITP, and 5-AITP opposite any naturaltemplating nucleobase. For each nonnatural nucleotide tested, linearrates in product formation are observed at all concentrations testedregardless of templating base composition, that is, insertion oppositeA, C, G, or T. Representative data for the insertion of 5-PhIMP oppositeT provided in FIG. 7 reveals that defined “bursts” in primer elongationare not observed for 5-PhIMP insertion opposite T or any other naturaltemplating nucleobase (data not shown). The lack of a burst phaseprecludes definition of an accurate k_(obs) value for insertion.Regardless, the lack of a defined burst again suggests that phosphoryltransfer or a kinetic step prior to phosphoryl transfer is rate limitingfor their insertion. Values for k_(pol), K_(D), and k_(pol)/K_(D) wereobtained as described above and are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Summary of Kinetic Rate and Equilibrium Constants for theInsertion of 5-Phenyl-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate,5-Fluoro-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate, and 5-Amino-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate Opposite Templating Basesa K_(pol)K_(D) K_(pol)/K_(D) dXTP Template (s⁻¹) (μM) (M⁻¹S⁻¹) 5-PhITP A 0.12 ±0.01  30 ± 10  4.0 × 10³ 5-PhITP C 0.19 ± 0.02 28 ± 7  6.8 × 10³ 5-PhITPG 0.26 ± 0.02 12 ± 4 21.7 × 10³ 5-PhITP T 0.16 ± 0.01 25 ± 7  6.4 × 10³5-FITP A 0.11 ± 0.06 170-28  0.6 × 10³ 5-FITP C b b b 5-FITP G b b b5-FITP T 0.040 ± 0.003 141 ± 32 0.29 × 10³ 5-AITP A 0.21 ± 0.01  263 ±102 0.46 × 10³ 5-AITP C b b b 5-AITP G b b b 5-AITP T 0.071 ± 0.003 132± 21 0.53 × 10³ a The kinetic parameters, k_(pol), K_(D), andk_(pol)/K_(D), for each nonnatural nucleotide were obtained underpseudo-first-order reaction conditions using 50 nM gp43exo−, 1 μM13/20SP-mer, and 10 mM Mg²⁺ at varying concentrations of nonnaturalnucleotide triphosphate (0.01-1 mM). b Not determined sinceincorporation was not observed at 1 mM nucleotide, the highestconcentration tested.

Discussion

Several models have been proposed to account for the preferentialinsertion of purines opposite an abasic site. Among these include theinvolvement of hydrophobic effects and entropic compensation as well assteric constraints and shape complementarity. However, an alternativemodel is the involvement of base-stacking contributions of the incomingnucleobase. We have demonstrated that the incorporation of 5-NITP, anovel nucleobase possessing enhanced base-stacking abilities, is1000-fold more efficient compared to that for natural nucleobases suchas dAMP and dGMP. Furthermore, replacement of the nitro moiety with —Hreduces the rate of insertion by 3 orders of magnitude and suggests thatthe π-electron density of the nitro group plays a major role towardenhancing incorporation opposite an abasic site. In this report we havefurther evaluated the contributions of π-electron stabilization througha structure-activity relationship study using various 5-substitutedindole triphosphates.

π-Electron Contributions During Catalysis.

Our analysis begins by revisiting the established kinetic mechanism ofgp43 exo⁻ (FIG. 5). In this multistep reaction pathway, there are twomicroscopic steps that are the most significant contributors towardcatalysis and fidelity. These include the binding of dNTP to thepolymerase/nucleic acid complex and the subsequent conformational changepreceding phosphoryl transfer. Proper dNTP binding has historically beenattributed to the formation of Watson-Crick base pairs between theincoming dNTP and template nucleobase (FIG. 5, step 2). The formation ofcorrectly paired partners is energetically favorable and typicallyexemplified by K_(D dNTP) values in the low micromolar range. Uponbinding the correct dNTP, the polymerase/DNA complex then undergoes aconformational change (FIG. 5, step 3) to further align the incomingdNTP into the correct geometrical arrangement for subsequent phosphoryltransfer (FIG. 5, step 4). During correct DNA synthesis, the rateconstant for this conformational change has been experimentally measuredat ˜100 s⁻¹ and is at least 10-fold slower than the rate constant forphosphoryl transfer. Thus, the conformational change step israte-limiting for the first round of enzyme turnover during normal DNAreplication.

During translesion synthesis, however, both ground-state binding of dNTPand the subsequent conformational change are highly disfavored. Althoughthe K_(D) for natural dNTPs is elevated severalfold, the predominantparameter that kinetically hinders misinsertion is the large reductionin the k_(pol) values. For example, k_(pol) values of ˜0.02-0.1 s⁻¹ havebeen reported for the misincorporation of natural dNTPs opposite theabasic site and represent a 103-104-fold reduction compared to thosevalues measured for the formation of natural Watson-Crick base pairs.The reduction in rate constant could reflect the lack ofhydrogen-bonding interactions or shape complementarity associated withthe lack of coding information present at an abasic site. However, thefast k_(pol) value of ˜50 s⁻¹ measured here for the incorporation of5-PhITP and that of ˜120 s⁻¹ reported for the incorporation of 5-NITPopposite an abasic site suggest that the rate constant forpolymerization can be accelerated if the incoming nucleobase contains anextended π-electron surface area. We argue that the increase in thek_(pol) value represents an enhancement in the conformational changestep prior to phosphoryl transfer. However, there is still debate as towhether the phosphoryl transfer step is at least partially rate-limitingfor the incorporation of the nonnatural nucleotides opposite the abasicsite. This issue was evaluated by measuring the time courses in 5-PhITPincorporation using EDTA (a nondenaturing quench) versus HCl (adenaturing agent). As outlined before, a lower burst amplitude should beobtained using HCl if phosphoryl transfer is rate-limiting since anyenzyme forms that accumulate before the chemistry step will beeffectively quenched by this denaturant while EDTA will quench thereaction only after the first turnover of the polymerase. The timecourses presented in FIG. 6 are nearly identical. In both cases, therate constants in incorporation are identical at ˜38 s⁻¹. In contrast,the maximal amount of product formed using EDTA is slightly higher (˜8%)than that using HCl as the quenching agent. We argue that thisdifference is minimal and suggests that phosphoryl transfer is not ratelimiting for the incorporation of 5-PhITP opposite an abasic site. Anargument can, however, be made that this difference may be significant.If correct, then the difference of 8% can be used to calculate theinternal equilibrium constant of ˜9 for the chemical step. Theimportance of this value is that it still suggests that phosphoryltransfer may be, at most, partially rate-limiting for the incorporationof 5-PhITP opposite the abasic site. We note that further experimentssuch as pulse-chase will be required to completely validate thatphosphoryl transfer does not completely limit nucleotide incorporation.

These data provide evidence that the conformational change step may becompletely rate-limiting for 5-PhITP incorporation opposite an abasicsite. We argue that this conformational change step reflects theenzymatic motions required to reposition the incoming nucleobase from anextrahelical position into an interhelical position. This mechanism isintuitive at the molecular level if one considers that an incomingnucleobase containing extensive π-electrons would be thermodynamicallyfavored to exist in the interior of duplex DNA due to offsetbase-stacking contributions. Indeed, computer models for the structureof the 5-phenylindole deoxyriboside provided in FIG. 8A show that themolecule has an extended π-electron cloud that is not localized to anysignificant extent. It is noteworthy that the most energeticallyfavorable conformation is that in which the phenyl substituent is tilted26.8° out-of-plane with respect to the indole moiety. Molecular modelingof the nonnatural nucleoside placed opposite the abasic site revealsthat this subtle distortion has a minimal effect on the overall shape ofthe pair in comparison to a natural A:T base pair (FIG. 8B). Thus, theoverall shape and stacking contributions of 5-phenyl-indole opposite anabasic site are predicted to be in an optimal arrangement for stableincorporation. Although the shape and size of 5-phenyl-indole oppositean abasic site appear important for the rate enhancement forincorporation, we argue that it is not the predominant driving force.Specifically, both 5-PhITP and 5-NITP are rapidly incorporated oppositean abasic site despite having significant differences in shape and size(compare 223.2 Å² for 5-PhITP versus 171.4 A2 for 5-NITP). If shapecomplementarity were the sole driving force, then 5-PhITP should beincorporated more efficiently than 5-NITP since it more adequately fillsthe void of an abasic site. We argue that π-electron surface area, themost notable common feature between the two analogues, plays the mostsignificant role for their facile incorporation opposite an abasic site.

Further evidence of the importance of π-electron surface area comes fromevaluation of the insertion of other 5-substituted indoles such as5-FITP and 5-AITP opposite an abasic site. Although fluorine possesseselectron withdrawing potential similar to that of a nitro group, it doesnot possess significant π-electron density. In fact, this deficiency canexplain the poor kinetics for 5-FIMP insertion opposite the abasic site.A similar line of reasoning can be applied to the amino derivative,5-AITP. In this case, the amino group is similar in size to a nitrogroup and also possesses a hydrogen-bond donor group. However, 5-AITPlacks an extended π-electron surface area and is inserted poorlyopposite an abasic site. As summarized in Table 1, the catalyticefficiency for 5-FITP and 5-AITP insertion opposite the abasic site islow. Both nonnatural nucleotides display low k_(pol) values of ˜0.3 s⁻¹that are remarkably similar to those values reported for theincorporation of dATP and IndTP, respectively. These resultscollectively suggest that π-electron contributions rather thanelectronegativity, size constraints, or hydrogen-bonding interactionsgives rise to enhanced selectivity for insertion opposite thenontemplating lesion.

π-Electron Interactions are Required for Optimal Ground-State Binding

We envision that the conformational change step outlined in FIG. 5reflects the ability of the polymerase to “stack” the nucleobases intothe interior of the DNA helix. However, the question still remains as towhether (and how) the presence of π-electrons affects ground-statebinding of the incoming nucleotide. It was previously demonstrated thatthe low K_(D) value of ˜20 μM for 5-NITP was independent of templatingnucleobase. This result was interpreted to reflect the existence of a“nonselective” dNTP-binding site in gp43 composed of highly conservedaromatic amino acids that could stabilize the binding of the incomingnucleobase through π-π stacking interactions. The kinetic data presentedin this manuscript provide additional support for this mechanism.Specifically, the K_(D) value for 5-PhITP incorporation opposite anabasic site is 14 μM and is essentially identical to that measured for5-NITP. The identity in binding affinities coincides strongly with thehigh degree of electron conjugation associated with each molecule. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the active site of the DNA polymerase frombacteriophage RB693 is lined with several aromatic amino acids that arewithin 10 Å of the primer-template junction. The extended π-electrondensity of 5-phenylindole could interact favorably with the aromaticamino acids lining the active site of the DNA polymerase. We proposethat these previously unrecognized interactions may play an importantrole in catalysis during translesion DNA synthesis. Indeed, mutagenesisof Y416 to serine dramatically reduces the catalytic efficiency for theincorporation of 5-NITP and 5-PhITP opposite the abasic site lesionwhile it has little effect on the correct incorporation of dATP oppositeT The reduced efficiency during translesion DNA synthesis is consistentwith the loss of base-stacking interactions in the enzyme's active site.

The measured K_(D) values for 5-FITP and 5-AITP insertion opposite theabasic site provide additional insight into the dynamics of nucleotidebinding. Replacement of electrons with either an electron-withdrawinggroup (5-fluoro derivative) or a group capable of providinghydrogen-bonding interactions (5-amino derivative) reduces bindingaffinity by at least 10-fold (Table 3). This reduction corresponds to achange in relative free energy of ˜1.4 kcal/mol that potentiallyrepresents the energy associated with π-π stacking. Removal ofπ-electron density at the 5-position of indole could easily reduce thestrength between the interactions of the incoming nucleobase with theseactive site residues to adversely affect binding affinity.

Alternative Models for Translesion DNA Synthesis.

Alternative mechanisms invoking the involvement of desolvation, dipolemoment, or both could also account for the preferential insertion of5-NIMP and 5-PhIMP opposite the abasic site. If desolvation were themost critical parameter, then the efficiency of insertion shouldcorrelate well with the hydrophobicity (log P) of the nucleobase. Thismodel predicts that 5-PhIMP should be inserted opposite an abasic sitewith a higher overall efficiency compared to 5-NIMP due to the largevalue of 3.3 of the former nucleobase compared to the lower log P of˜1.7 of the latter. As summarized in Table 3, the catalytic efficiencyfor 5-PhIMP insertion is 2-fold lower than 5-NIMP despite the fact thatthe log P value of 5-phenyl-indole is significantly higher. Furtherevaluation of other modified indole triphosphates yields identicalinterpretations. For example, indole deoxyriboside and the 5-fluoroderivative have nearly identical log P values compared to 5-NIMP yet areinserted 1000-fold less efficiently. While desolvation undoubtedly playsa significant role during DNA replication by stabilizing duplex DNA(reviewed in ref 1), it appears to play a minimal role in directlyinfluencing nucleotide insertion during translesion DNA synthesis. Otherrelevant biophysical parameters such as dipole moment and surface area(Table 3) appear to play minimal roles on an individual basis since areasonable correlation between the measured catalytic efficiency witheither of these parameters is not observed.

TABLE 3 Comparison of Selective Biophysical Parameters of Various5-Substituted Indole Derivatives Catalytic dipole surface volumenucleobase efficiency^(a) log P^(b) moment^(c) area (Å²)^(d) (Å³)^(e)π-electrons^(f) adenine 1.5 × 10³ −1.45 2.38 143.0 121.7 no indole 1.9 ×10³ 1.64 2.02 146.2 131.1 no 5-nitro-indole 7.0 × 10⁶ 1.67 7.81 171.4152.4 yes 5-phenyl- 3.8 × 10⁶ 3.31 2.24 223.2 213.4 yes indole 5-fluoro-2.0 × 10³ 1.79 4.22 152.0 135.7 no indole 5-amino- 0.5 × 10³ 0.83 1.00159.7 141.3 no indole ^(a)Catalytic efficiency is defined ask_(pol)/K_(D) (M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and represents the apparent second-order rateconstant of the enzyme catalyzed reaction. These values are taken fromTable 1 and references cited within. ^(b)The log P values, theoil-to-water partition coefficients, were calculated using Spartan ′02software and are used as an indicator of relative hydrophobicity.^(c)Dipole moments (D) were calculated using Spartan ′02 software andare used as an indicator of relative electronegativity. ^(d)Surfaceareas were calculated using Spartan ′02 software. ^(e)Volumes werecalculated using Spartan ′02 software and are used as an indicator ofrelative size of the nucleobase. ^(f)The term π-electrons refers to thepresence of a conjugated substituent group at the 5 position of indole.

The Role of Shape Complementarity During DNA Polymerization.

5-Substituted indoles such as 5-FITP and 5-AITP were expected to beefficiently inserted opposite the pyrimidines, C and T, since they werepredicted to form base pairs that resemble Watson-Crick base pairs dueto the favorable contributions of steric fit and potentialhydrogenbonding interactions. The data summarized in Table 3 shows apoor correlation between the efficiency of nucleotide insertion and theshape of the formed base pair. This unexpected result is besthighlighted by examination of the unfavorable kinetic parametersassociated with the insertion of 5-AITP opposite pyrimidines. Despitehaving a hydrogen bond donor that could potentially interact with the C4keto group of thymine, the insertion of 5-AIMP opposite T was veryineffective as manifested in a low k_(pol) (˜0.07 s⁻¹) coupled with ahigh K_(D) value (˜130 μM). Likewise, insertion of 5-AIMP opposite C wasnot detected. This observation is not unique to 5-AIMP insertion sinceidentical trends are also observed for the insertion of 5-FIMP (Table2).

The most intriguing results are again observed for the insertion of5-PhIMP opposite any of the templating bases. Although the catalyticefficiency for 5-PhIMP insertion does vary depending upon thecomposition of templating nucleobase, the measured k_(pol)/K_(D) valuesare in most cases 10-fold greater than those measured for 5-FITP and5-AITP. Surprisingly, the most influential parameter is binding affinity(low K_(D) values) rather than an enhancement in the rate of theconformational change (low k_(pol) values). The K_(D) for 5-PhITP is ˜25μM and remarkably similar to the K_(D) values measured for theincorporation of 5-NITP. We again propose that the higher bindingaffinities for nucleotides containing enhanced π-electron contributionsis evidence for a “nonspecific” binding site for an incoming dNTP thattakes advantage of π-π stacking interactions between the aromatic ringsof the incoming dNTP and amino acids. The low k_(pol) values couldreflect the impact of shear bulk present on the phenyl ring that mostlikely precludes stable pairing opposite a template base. This couldreflect the contribution of steric fitting/shape complementarity ornegative selection.

Conclusion.

This report highlights the significant role of π-electron surface areaduring DNA polymerization, especially during incorporation opposite anabasic site. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is how the bacteriophageT4 DNA polymerase utilizes the formation of noncovalent bonds betweenπ-π stacking systems to facilitate nucleotide binding and theconformational change step preceding phosphoryl transfer. Preliminarydata using the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I reveal thatthis polymerase inserts 5-PhIMP at least 10-fold more efficientlyopposite an abasic site than 5-NIMP. This result appears to contrastdata obtained using the bacteriophage T4 enzyme and leads to theprovocative suggestion that DNA polymerases utilize different catalyticstrategies during DNA polymerization.

Example 2 Potential Chemotherapeutic Strategy for the SelectiveInhibition of Promutagenic DNA Synthesis by Nonnatural Nucleotides

Current chain terminators containing natural nucleobases theoreticallylack the intrinsic selectivity to inhibit one DNA polymerase versusanother. Since these agents resemble their natural counterparts, theymay be degraded by cellular enzymes that metabolize natural nucleotides.For example, enzymatic deamination of purine analogues such asdideoxyadenosine limits its use and may play a significant role in thedevelopment of drug resistance to natural nucleoside analogues.

To combat these complications, we attempted to exploit several of theunique features of the previously described nonnatural nucleotides thatare displayed in FIG. 10. Specifically, we demonstrate that two of thesenonnatural nucleotides are selectively inserted opposite damaged DNAthat can be induced by chemotherapeutic agents. More importantly, thesemolecules act as potent and selective chain terminators of replicationbeyond an abasic site. This activity will inhibit the propagation ofgenomic errors caused by extending beyond a natural mispair. In general,the ability to selectively inhibit promutagenic DNA synthesis would bebeneficial in preventing a leading culprit in disease development anddrug resistance.

Materials and Methods Materials.

[γ⁻³²P]ATP was purchased from M. P. Bio-Medicals. Ultrapure, unlabeleddNTPs were obtained from Pharmacia. Magnesium acetate and Trizma basewere from Sigma. Urea, acrylamide, and bisacrylamide were from Aldrich.Oligonucleotides, including those containing a tetrahydrofuran moietymimicking an abasic site, were synthesized by Operon Technologies(Alameda, Calif.). Singlestranded and duplex DNA were purified andquantified as described. All other materials were obtained fromcommercial sources and were of the highest available quality. Thewild-type gp43 and the exonuclease-deficient mutant of gp43 (Asp-219 toAla mutation) were purified and quantified as previously described. Thenonnatural nucleotides used in this study were synthesized and purifiedas described.

Enzyme Assays

The assay buffer used in all kinetic studies consisted of 25 mM Tris-OAc(pH 7.5), 150 mM KOAc, and 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. All assays wereperformed at 25° C. Polymerization reactions were monitored by analysisof the products on 20% sequencing gels. Gel images were obtained with aPackard PhosphorImager using the OptiQuant software supplied by themanufacturer. Product formation was quantified by measuring the ratio of³²P-labeled extended and nonextended primer. The ratios of productformation are corrected for substrate in the absence of polymerase (zeropoint). Corrected ratios are then multiplied by the concentration ofprimer/template used in each assay to yield total product. Allconcentrations are listed as final solution concentrations.

Competition Experiments

Ten nanomolar gp43 exo⁻ was preincubated with 1000 nM 13/20-mer. Toaccurately visualize elongation, the 13-mer primer strand was labeledwith [γ⁻³²P]ATP using T4 polynucleotide kinase (New England Biolabs) andannealed with a stoichiometric amount of unlabeled 20-mer. Thepolymerization reaction was initiated by the addition of 10 μM dNTPs(dATP, dGTP, dTTP) in the absence or presence of 500 μM 5-NITP. Fivemicroliter aliquots of the reaction were quenched into tubes containing5 μL of 200 mM EDTA at times ranging from 5 to 180 s. The quenchedsamples were processed as described above and product formation wasanalyzed using established protocols.

Competition assays during translesion DNA synthesis were performed withseveral slight modifications to the aforementioned protocol. First,single turnover conditions were employed in which 1000 nM gp43 exo⁻ waspreincubated with 250 nM 13/20SP-mer. As above, the 13-mer primer strandwas labeled with [γ⁻³²P]ATP using T4 polynucleotide kinase and annealedwith a stoichiometric quantity of unlabeled 20SP-mer. Second, thepolymerization reaction was initiated by the addition of 500 μM dNTPs(dATP, dGTP, dTTP) in the absence and presence of 20 μM 5-NITP. Aliquotsof the reaction were quenched into 200 mM EDTA at times ranging from 5to 300 s and processed as described above.

Pre-Steady-State Exonuclease Assays.

A rapid quench instrument was used to monitor the time course inhydrolysis of DNA containing a variety of mispaired primer-templates. Inthese experiments, a preincubated solution of 2 μM gp43 exo+/10 mM Mg²⁺was mixed with 500 nM 5′-labeled DNA (final concentrations). Thereaction was then terminated at various times by the addition of 350 mMEDTA, and the reaction products were analyzed as described above. In allcases, the data were plotted as initial substrate (typically 14-mer)remaining as a function of time. Data for each time course were fit tothe following equation defining a first-order decay in initial substrateconcentration.

y=Ae ^(−kt) +C

where A is the burst amplitude, k is the observed rate constant forproduct formation, and C is the end point of the reaction.

Idle-Turnover Measurements.

DNA (13/20SP-mer or 13/20T-mer; 250 nM) was first preincubated withvariable concentrations of 5-NITP (20-200 μM) or 5-PhITP (10-200 μM) inthe presence of 30 μM dATP. Due to the nature of the DNA substrate (FIG.1B), the insertion of dAMP opposite T at position 13 in the templatemaintains a usable primer template for the insertion of the nonnaturalnucleotide opposite the abasic lesion (position 14). In all cases, thereaction was initiated through the addition of 1000 nM DNA gp43 exo⁺.Five microliter aliquots of the reaction were quenched into tubescontaining 5 μL of 200 mM EDTA at times ranging from 5 to 600 s. Thequenched samples were processed as described above and product formationwas analyzed using established protocols.

Simulations modeling the observed kinetic time courses for nucleotideinsertion and excision were performed by mathematical analyses usingKINSIM. A simplified mechanism depicted in FIG. 11 was employed thataccounts for the kinetic parameters of interest. These minimally includeK_(D) values for each nucleotide, k_(pol) values for their insertion,and k_(exo), which represents the hydrolytic rate constant. Both thestarting reactant concentrations and rate constants were supplied foreach step of the mechanism. In all cases, the rate constants were basedupon either experimentally determined rate constants or publishedliterature values. The simulated curves were then compared to thoseexperimentally derived to judge how accurately each set of rateconstants fit the experimental data. Adjustments to the rate constantswere then made until the simulated time courses were nearly identical tothe experimental time courses.

Results and Discussion 5-NITP and 5-PhITP Are Chain Terminators of DNASynthesis.

It was previously demonstrated that gp43 exo⁻ can extend beyond anabasic site only when DAMP or dGMP are placed opposite the lesion. Theability to extend beyond these mispairs was proposed to reflect thepositioning of these nucleobases in an interhelical position when pairedopposite an abasic site. Since 5-NITP and 5-PhITP (preceding manuscript)are more efficiently inserted opposite an abasic site, it was predictedthat gp43 exo⁻ would easily extend beyond these nonnatural analoguessince they should exist in an interhelical conformation when pairedopposite this lesion. This hypothesis was directly tested by measuringthe ability of gp43 exo⁻ to extend beyond either mispair using theexperimental protocol outlined in FIG. 12A. Briefly, the preincubatedgp43 exo⁻:13/20SP-mer complex was incubated with 50 μM dXTP for 30 s.This time frame allows all of the primer to be elongated by only onebase, that is, conversion of 13-mer to 14-mer (FIG. 12B, lane 2). Afterthis time frame, 1000 μM dGTP was added to allow extension beyond theenzymatically formed 5-NIMP:abasic site mispair. Surprisingly, thepolymerase cannot elongate beyond the 14-mer product even when suppliedwith high concentrations of the next correct dNTP. Increasing thereaction time, the concentration of dGTP, or both has no effect onextension (data not shown). The phenomenon is not limited to 5-NITPsince identical results are obtained using 5-PhITP as the nucleotidesubstrate (data not shown).

FIG. 12C displays the results from the positive control experimentmonitoring incorporation and elongation beyond the DNA lesion when onlynatural dNTPs are used. As expected, gp43 exo⁻ incorporates dATPopposite the abasic site. Extension beyond the formed dAMP:abasic siteoccurs when dGTP is added to the reaction mixture since a variety ofpolymerization products ranging from 15- to 17-mers accumulate. Thus,replication beyond an abasic site does occur, albeit with lowefficiency.

The inability to extend beyond nonnatural nucleosides indicates thatboth 5-NITP and 5-PhITP are chain terminators of DNA synthesis. At facevalue, these results appear contradictory to our original hypothesisstating that the kinetics of elongation should be dependent upon theinterhelical conformation of the nucleobase. However, alternativemechanisms distinct from perturbations in interversus extrahelicalconformation could also account for the lack of extension. Onepossibility could reflect improper size or geometrical constraintsimposed by the nonnatural mispair. For example, distortion of the newlyformed mispair could cause the polymerase to stall or preventtranslocation to the next templating position. Another potentialmechanism invokes the contributions of various heterocyclic nitrogensduring the polymerization cycle. In this regard, several groups havedemonstrated that purine analogues devoid of either the N7 or N3nitrogens are effectively inserted into DNA but are refractory toelongation. These results again demonstrate that typical hydrogenbondingfunctional groups are not necessary for incorporation. However, theirpresence appears obligatory for efficient elongation. In fact, thesefunctional groups are proposed to be required for minor groove contactsbetween the nucleic acid and DNA polymerase. It is easy to envision thatthe removal of these contacts could prevent translocation of thepolymerase, disturb the orientation of the primer/template, or both toinhibit elongation.

Potency and Selectivity for Inhibiting Replication Beyond an AbasicSite.

The previous data indicate that replication beyond an abasic site couldbe selectively inhibited by 5-NITP and 5-PhITP. The next goal was todetermine whether these nonnatural nucleotides could effectively competewith natural dNTPs for insertion opposite an abasic site under in vivorelevant conditions. This was accomplished using an adaptation of theprotocol illustrated in FIG. 12A using unmodified DNA or DNA containingan abasic site (FIG. 10B). This experimental paradigm has two distinctadvantages. The first is that it directly measures the ability of 5-NITP(or 5-PhITP) to compete with natural dNTPs for insertion oppositedamaged or unmodified DNA (potency and selectivity). Second, it measuresthe ability of these nonnatural analogues to prevent elongation beyondpotential mispairs and evaluates the potential efficacy of thesecompounds.

As a positive control, the ability of gp43 exo⁻ to insert and elongatebeyond the abasic site was measured in the absence of either 5-NITP or5-PhITP. Since replication beyond this form of DNA damage is typicallydisfavored, high concentrations of natural dNTPs (500 μM each) were usedto enhance insertion and extension beyond this form of DNA damage. Inthe absence of any nonnatural nucleotide, gp43 exo⁻ inserts and extendsbeyond the abasic site fairly efficiently (FIG. 13A).

FIG. 13B, however, shows the results of a competition experimentperformed in the presence of 20 μM 5-NITP and 500 μM dNTPs. Denaturinggel electrophoresis shows that there is a rapid production of 14-merthat reflects the exclusive incorporation of 5-NITP opposite the abasicsite. A more important observation, however, is that the level of 14-merproduct remains invariant during the time course of the reaction.Identical results are obtained when the experiment is performedsubstituting 5-PhITP for 5-NITP (data not shown). The inability of gp43exo⁻ to extend beyond the generated mispairs provides a clear indicationof the chain termination abilities of 5-NITP and 5-PhITP. Furthermore,this inhibition is not observed when the reaction is performed usingIndTP, 5-FITP, or 5-AITP at a fixed concentration of 20 μM (data notshown). Increasing the concentration of these analogues to 350 μM has noeffect on the kinetics of elongation (data not shown). The inability ofthese analogues to inhibit replication beyond an abasic site likelyarises from the fact that all three analogues have high K_(D) and lowk_(pol) values for insertion opposite the abasic site.

The potency of 5-NITP toward inhibiting replication beyond an abasicsite was further quantified by measuring the dose dependence of 5-NITPtoward inhibiting primer elongation. Experiments were performed asdescribed above with the exception that the concentration of 5-NITP wasvaried at 0, 5, 10, and 20 μM. As expected, extension beyond the abasicsite occurs in the absence of nonnatural nucleotide. However, the amountof extension decreases as the concentration of 5-NITP is increased. TheIC50 value for 5-NITP is 10 μM since this concentration inhibits 50% ofprimer extension. Similar analyses for 5-PhITP yield an IC₅₀ value of 10μM (data not shown). Collectively, these data indicate that 5-NITP and5-PhITP can effectively compete with natural dNTPs for the binding tothe polymerase and can inhibit translesion DNA synthesis.

Chain Termination Capabilities Using Unmodified DNA.

The ability of these nonnatural nucleotides to function as generic chainterminators was also evaluated using an unmodified DNA substrate. Inthese experiments, pseudofirst-order conditions were used since normalDNA synthesis is more efficient than translesion DNA synthesis.Specifically, a limiting concentration of gp43 exo⁻ (10 nM) waspreincubated with 1000 nM 13/20-mer prior to the addition of 10 μM dNTPsin the absence (FIG. 14A) or in the presence of 500 μM 5-NITP (FIG.14B). In the absence of 5-NITP, a ladder of products ranging from14-mers to 20-mers is observed, a result that demonstrates the abilityof the polymerase to easily elongate unmodified DNA. The widedistribution of elongation products reflects the low processivity of thepolymerase under pseudo-first-order conditions. Visual inspection of thedata provided in FIG. 14B reveals that the addition of 500 μM 5-NITP haslittle effect on the ability of gp43 exo⁻ to perform normal DNAsynthesis. Further quantification of the reaction products indicatesthat the addition of 500 μM 5-NITP reduces the overall rate in primerelongation by less than 10% (FIG. 14C). The slight degree of inhibitionon the rate and extent of primer elongation indicates that 5-NITP haslow potency for terminating synthesis on undamaged DNA. Nearly identicalresults are obtained when 5-PhITP is substituted for 5-NITP (data notshown). The ability of other nonnatural nucleotides to inhibit normalDNA synthesis was also evaluated. High concentrations (500 μM) of othernonnatural nucleosides, such as IndTP, 5-FITP, or 5-AITP do not inhibitnormal DNA synthesis (data not shown). As before, the inability toinhibit normal DNA synthesis likely reflects their poor kineticparameters for insertion opposite natural templating bases, that is,high K_(D) and low k_(pol) values.

Stability of 5-NITP Incorporation Opposite Natural or Damaged DNA.

The associated exonuclease activity of the DNA polymerase caneffectively remove most chain terminators from DNA after beingincorporated. In the case of our nonnatural nucleotides, this activitywould render the analogue therapeutically useless. To address thisconcern, we evaluated the ability of gp43 exo⁺ to excise 5-NIMP from DNAwhen it is placed opposite the nontemplating lesion or opposite T. Theadvantage of the bacteriophage T4 enzyme is that it possesses a vigorousexonuclease activity that plays a significant role in the maintenance offidelity. Excision reactions were performed employing single turnoverconditions in a rapid quench instrument. The first set of experimentscompare the excision of 5-NIMP and dAMP when paired opposite an abasicsite (FIG. 15). Time courses in excision are best defined as asingle-exponential curve. An observed rate constant of excision(k_(exo)) of 9.9±0.8 s⁻¹ is measured for excising 5-NIMP, while thek_(exo) value for excising dAMP is 28.5±1.1 s⁻¹.

TABLE 4 Summary of Exonuclease Rate Constants Measured for the Excisionof dAMP or 5-NIMP Paired Opposite an Abasic Site or Thymine primertemplate nucleoside nucleoside k_(exo)(s⁻¹) dAMP thymine  0.8 ± 0.1 dAMPabasic site 28.5 ± 1.1 5-NITP thymine 13.0 ± 1.4 5-NITP abasic site  9.9± 0.8 ^(a)The kinetic rate constant, k_(exo), was measured under singleturnover reaction conditions using 1 μM gp43exo+, 250 mM DNA(14A/20T-mer, 14A/20SP-mer, 14NI/20T-mer, or 14NI/20SP-mer), and 10 mMMg²⁺.

Surprisingly, the kinetics of 5-NIMP excision placed opposite T arenearly identical to that measured for excision opposite the abasic siteas reflected in the k_(exo) value of 13.0±1.4 s⁻¹, which is nearlyidentical to that measured for excision opposite the abasic site.Control experiments measuring the excision of DAMP when paired oppositeT reveal that excision of dAMP is significantly slower since the k_(exo)value is 0.8±0.1 s⁻¹. This value is consistent with the published valueof 2 s⁻¹.

Comparing the rate constants of excision summarized in Table 4 providesinteresting insights into the dynamics of exonuclease proofreading.First, the rate constant for dAMP excision opposite the abasic site is˜40-fold faster than that measured when the natural nucleotide is pairedopposite T. The faster rate constant undoubtedly reflects the nature ofthe mispair. Not surprisingly, the rate constant for excising 5-NIMPfrom an abasic site is 3-fold slower than that for DAMP excision fromthe same lesion. We argue that this difference reflects the increasedbase-stacking capabilities of 5-NIMP compared to DAMP such that theincreased stability of the 5-NIMP:abasic site makes it more difficult topartition the primer into the exonuclease active site for degradation.This argument is consistent with biochemical and structural dataindicating that at least three base pairs have to be melted for theprimer to partition to the exonuclease active site of the bacteriophagepolymerase.

This model may also explain the similarity in rate constants forexcising 5-NIMP from T versus an abasic site. This result was surprisingsince it was predicted that the 5-NIMP:T mispair would be hydrolyzedmuch faster than the 5-NIMP: SP mispair. This prediction is based uponthe generally accepted kinetic model for fidelity in which the rates ofdNMP excision (k_(exo)) are inversely correlated with the rates of dNTPincorporation (k_(pol)). The basis for this model is intuitivelyobvious: the more difficult it is to form a mispair, the easier itshould be to degrade it and vice versa. We have demonstrated that thiscorrelation exists during translesion DNA synthesis with naturalnucleotides since it is kinetically unfavorable to incorporate dATPopposite an abasic site (k_(pol)≈0.15 s⁻¹) while it is kineticallyfavorable to excise dAMP (k_(exo)≈28 s⁻¹). Although the majority of datawith natural mispairs support this argument, the dynamics of exonucleaseproofreading may be different when nonnatural nucleotides are placed inthe primer. For example, we previously demonstrated that theincorporation of 5-NITP opposite an abasic site (k_(pol)±126 s⁻¹) isIdentically favored by 140-fold compared to the insertion of 5-NITPopposite T (k_(pol)±0.9 s⁻¹) (28). The kinetic difference arguablyreflects the enhanced stability of the 5-nitro-indole opposite theabasic site rather than when paired opposite T in the template. Sincethe 5-NIMP:T mispair appears less favorable, it stands to reason that itshould be rapidly degraded. However, the k_(exo) value of ˜10 s⁻¹ forexcision from opposite T is essentially identical to that measured forexcision from the “favored” mispair of 5-NIMP:SP. It is tempting tospeculate that the identity in kinetics for excision of 5-NIMP fromdifferent mispairs reflects the universal base-stacking properties ofthe nonnatural nucleobase.

Idle Turnover Measurements.

Idle turnover is a process in which the DNA polymerase incorporates adNTP and then excises the inserted dNMP in the absence of the nextrequired nucleotide triphosphate (FIG. 11). This activity provides amore accurate representation of in vivo conditions in which thepolymerase should be bound and stalled at the sight of DNA damage. Idleturnover was quantified using a modified gel electrophoresis protocolthat monitors the amount of extension (13-mer to 14-mer) and subsequentexcision (14-mer to 13-mer) of the DNA as a function of time. Allexperiments were performed using single turnover reaction conditions toensure that all DNA was bound with polymerase during the course of thereaction. Under these conditions, the rates in product formation reflectthe kinetics of insertion and excision rather than enzyme dissociationfrom the mispair. In each experiment, the concentration of nonnaturalnucleotide was varied from 20 to 200 μM. In addition, a lowconcentration of 30 μM dATP was used to allow for correct dNMP insertionat position 13-mer, which prevents complete degradation of DNAsubstrate.

FIG. 16A shows representative denaturing gel electrophoresis data forthe idle turnover of 5-NITP opposite the abasic site at 20 and 200 μM5-NITP, respectively. FIG. 16B provides the time courses monitoring theproduction of 14-mer under these conditions and reveals that theaccumulation of 14-mer is both concentration- and time-dependent. Ateither concentration, there is rapid primer elongation to form 14-mersince the catalytic efficiency for 5-NITP incorporation opposite thelesion is high (k_(pol)/K_(D)=7.0×10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The steady-stateaccumulation of 14-mer product reflects the latency in degradation thatdefines the process of idle turnover. It is clear, however, that thereis an attenuation in the time course for 14-mer degradation as theconcentration of 5-NITP is increased from 20 to 200 μM. This dosedependency can easily be explained by the law of mass action since theconcentration of nucleotide substrate diminishes during thissteady-state phase due to repetitive cycling of insertion and excision.Under these conditions, the concentration of 5-NITP decreases until itis below the K_(D) value. At this point, the polymerase is unable tocontinue incorporation opposite the lesion, and this leads to completedegradation of the 14-mer.

To validate this model, computer simulations of the data were performedusing the mechanism provided in FIG. 11. Since single turnover reactionconditions were employed, kinetic steps reflecting enzyme dissociationand rebinding to product DNA are assumed to be negligible. Thus, therate and amount of 14-mer produced are dependent upon four interrelatedparameters. These include the kinetic dissociation constant (K_(D)) fordXTP opposite the lesion (DNA_(n)) (step 2), the rate constant for DNAextension (k_(pol)) (step 3), the rate constant of exonucleasedegradation (k_(exo)) (step 5), and the kinetic dissociation constant(K_(D)′) for dXTP opposite the next templating position (DNA_(n+1))(step 6). Although k_(pol) is a complex function of kinetic rateconstants, this value was simplified to combine the kinetic stepsencompassing the conformational change prior to phosphoryl transfer,phosphoryl transfer, and the conformational change after phosphoryltransfer. Furthermore, translocation of the enzyme and pyrophosphaterelease (step 4) are assumed to be rapid.

Initial computer simulations were performed using the published K_(D)value of 18 μM and the k_(pol) value of 126 s⁻¹ for 5-NITP incorporationopposite an abasic site. The experimentally measured value of 10 s⁻¹ wasused for k_(exo) (vide supra). At a fixed concentration of 5-NITP (20μM), the time course in the production and subsequent degradation of14-mer could only be adequately fit if a parameter that represented thekinetic equilibrium dissociation constant (K_(D)′) for 5-NITP oppositethe next templating position (DNA_(n+1)) was included in thesimulations. Computer simulations were also performed for the timecourses generated at several different fixed concentrations of 5-NITP(20, 50, 100, and 200 μM). In all cases, time courses were best fitusing the following parameters: K_(D) value of 20 μM, a k_(pol) value of100 s⁻¹, a k_(exo) value of 10 s⁻¹, and a K_(D)′ value of 10 mM.

Identical analyses were performed to measure the idle turnover of5-PhITP as the nucleotide substrate. The data provided in FIG. 17compares the time courses generated for the incorporation of 100 μM5-PhITP versus 100 μM 5-NITP opposite the abasic site. It is clear thatthe phenylindole derivative is more stably incorporated opposite theabasic site compared to the nitro indole analogue. This result issomewhat surprising since the overall catalytic efficiency for 5-PhITPincorporation opposite the lesion (k_(pol)/K_(D)=3.6×10 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) is2-fold lower than that measured for 5-NITP (k_(pol)/K_(D)=7.0×10⁶ M⁻¹s⁻¹). Regardless, the enhanced stability of 5-PhIMP opposite the lesionis indicative of a decrease in idle turnover. This reduction could becaused at two mutually exclusive mechanisms that would be reflected inperturbations in two different kinetic steps along the reaction pathway.The first step would be a reduced rate constant in degradation(k_(exo)), while the alternative is a reduction in the K_(D)′ value forthe next templating position. Computer simulation was again used togenerate values corresponding to K_(D), k_(pol), k_(exo), and K_(D)′(Table 5). The parameter most sensitive to variation is the kayo value.In fact, this value is 10-fold slower than that measured for theexcision of 5-NIMP from opposite the abasic site. This result indicatesthat it is more difficult to excise the large phenyl-indole derivativethan the smaller 5-nitro analogue. It is tempting to speculate that thereduced rate constant in exonuclease degradation reflects the enhancedbase-stacking capabilities of the 5-phenyl-indole derivative.

Potential Toxicity and Therapeutic Indices of the Non-NaturalNucleotides.

These results collectively indicate that nonnatural nucleotides 5-NITPand 5-PhITP can effectively inhibit replication beyond an abasic siteunder in vitro conditions. To place constraints on the potential in vivoutility of these analogues to inhibit promutagenic versus normal DNAreplication, we defined the potential toxicity and therapeutic indicesof 5-NITP and 5-PhITP. It should be noted that we define potentialtoxicity as the inhibition of replication beyond an abasic site. Whilethe term “toxic” is used as a descriptor, this activity is considered tobe beneficial since it would potential prevent promutagenic DNAsynthesis. Briefly, the potential effectiveness of each analogue toinhibit replication beyond an abasic site was evaluated by measuring thecatalytic efficiency, k_(pol)/K_(D), for both analogues and thencalculating the discrimination for insertion as the ratio of catalyticefficiencies for the nucleotide analogue versus the correct dNTP. Amongthe four natural nucleotides, dATP has the highest k_(pol)/K_(D) valuefor incorporation opposite an abasic site and is therefore considered tobe the correct dNTP for replication opposite this lesion. In the case ofincorporation opposite an abasic site, discrimination (D) is defined as(k_(pol)/K_(D))dATP/(k_(pol)/K_(D))_(dXTP). Using 5-NITP as thenonnatural nucleotide, we can calculate the discrimination factor as7×10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹/4300 M⁻¹ s⁻¹ yielding a value for D of 6.1×10⁻⁴ (Table 6).Similar analyses were used to calculate a D value of 11.4×10⁻⁵ for5-PhITP (Table 6). Both values are extremely low and provide a clearindication that the nonnatural nucleotides should be exclusivelyincorporated opposite an abasic site. We note that this conclusion istrue only if the concentrations of dATP and dXTP are equal. It isobvious that these discrimination values will approach unity if theconcentration of dATP increases in relationship to that of thenonnatural nucleotide, a condition that may occur within an in vivocontext due to potential differences in absorption and metabolism.

TABLE 5 Summary of Kinetic Rate and Equilibrium Constants Measured forthe Idle Turnover of 5-Nitro-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate(5-NITP) and 5-Phenyl-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate (5-PhITP)Opposite an Abasic Site dXTP K_(D)(μM) k_(pol)(S⁻¹) k_(exo)(S⁻¹)K_(D)′(μM) 5-NITP 20 ± 5 100 ± 10 10 ± 2  10 000 ± 1000 5-PhITP 20 ± 5 50 ± 10 1.0 ± 0.1 10 000 ± 1000

Regardless, these favorable discrimination values predict that 5-NITPand 5-PhITP have the potential to be chemopreventive agents. Aspreviously noted, however, the associated exonuclease activity of theDNA polymerase could effectively remove them to render these analoguestherapeutically useless. As such, the combined contributions ofincorporation and excision must be considered when evaluating thepotential therapeutic utility of any nucleotide analogue. This can beevaluated by calculating the toxicity index, which is defined as(k_(pol dNTP)/k_(exo dXTP))(dXTP/dNTP)/(4D) where k_(pol dNTP)represents the maximal rate of polymerization of the natural dNTP,k_(exo dXTP) represents the maximal rate of excision of the nonnaturalnucleotide, (dXTP/dNTP) is the ratio of nonnucleotide and naturalnucleotide concentrations, and D is the aforementioned calculateddiscrimination factor. This value defines the relative increase in timethat would be required to extend beyond an abasic site based upon therate constants for incorporation and excision of the nonnaturalnucleotide. In the case of 5-NITP, this value is ˜6, while that for5-PhITP is ˜33 (Table 6). The difference in values reflects the slowerexcision of 5-PhIMP compared to 5-NIMP and suggests that 5-PhITP wouldbe more effective toward inhibiting replication opposite an abasic site.

TABLE 6 Summary of Calculated Discrimination Values, Toxicity Index, andTherapeutic Index for 5-Nitro-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate(5-NITP) and 5-Phenyl-indolyl-2′-deoxyriboside Triphosphate (5-PhITP)parameter 5-NITP 5-PhITP discrimination 6.1 × 10⁻⁴ 11.4 × 10⁻⁴ (abasicDNA)^(a) discrimination 53 460-2500 (unmodified DNA)^(a) toxicity index6 33 (abasic DNA)^(b) toxicity index 0.047 0.01-0.05  (unmodifiedDNA)^(b) therapeutic index^(c) 128 660-3300 ^(a)Discrimination (D) isdefined as (k_(pol)/K_(D))_(dXTP)/(k_(pol)/K_(D))_(dATP). ^(b)Thetoxicity index for each analogue was calculated as(k_(pol dNTP)/k_(exo dXTP))(dXTP/dNTP)/(4D) where k_(pol dNTP)represents the maximal rate of polymerization of the natural dNTP,k_(exo dXTP) represents the maximal rate of excision of the nonnaturalnucleotide, (dXTP/dNTP) is the ratio of nonnucleotide and naturalnucleotide concentrations, and D is the discrimination factor. ^(c)Thetherapeutic index of each nonnatural nucleotide was calculated using thetoxicity index for abasic containing DNA divided by the toxicity indexusing normal DNA.

We next evaluated the potential of 5-NITP and 5-PhITP to provide what weconsider to be a true toxic response by inhibiting normal DNA synthesis,i.e., stable incorporation opposite unmodified DNA. As outlined above,discrimination can be calculated by the ratio of(k_(pol)/K_(D))_(dXTP)/(k_(pol)/K_(D))_(dNTP) for incorporation oppositetemplating nucleobase. In the case of unmodified DNA, we find that the Dvalue for 5-NITP is ˜53, while that for 5-PhITP is 460-2500.⁶ Theseextremely high values indicate that nonnatural nucleotide, especially5-PhITP, should be rarely incorporated opposite any of the four naturalnucleobases. Furthermore, these values can be used to calculate thetoxicity index of 0.047 for 5-NITP and 0.01-0.05 for 5-PhITP (Table 6).The importance of these low values is that neither analogue should givea toxic response by inhibiting normal DNA synthesis since they are notstably incorporated opposite unmodified DNA.

Finally, the therapeutic index of each nonnatural nucleotide wascalculated using the toxicity indices for the inhibition of normal DNAsynthesis and replication beyond an abasic site. The therapeutic index(TI) of a drug defines how selective it may be toward producing adesired effect rather than an adverse one and is classically defined asthe ratio of the toxic dose (TD) in relation to its effective dose (ED).In computing this value, we designate that the toxic dose reflectsinhibition of replication on unmodified DNA, while the effective dosereflects inhibition of replication beyond an abasic site, or thetoxicity index for abasic containing DNA/the toxicity index using normalDNA. Calculating the TI for 5-NITP, we find that this value is ˜128. Thecalculated value for 5-PhITP is 660-3300 and is more favorable than thatcalculated for 5-NITP. The importance of these values is that thedifference suggests that 5-PhITP would be “safer” than 5-NITP as achemopreventive agent. However, this conclusion needs to be validatedthrough careful in vivo analyses.

Conclusions.

This report outlines the development of a series of novel nonnaturalnucleotide analogues that act as selective inhibitors of replicationopposite an abasic site. We demonstrate that two analogues containingsubstituent groups with extended conjugated systems (5-NITP and 5-PhITP)are preferentially incorporated opposite an abasic site. Furthermore,the potency and efficacy of these analogues is reflected in their highaffinity for incorporation opposite the lesion (K_(D)×10 μM) and theirability to terminate DNA synthesis with low IC₅₀ values of ˜10 μM.Finally, these molecules were more resistant to enzymatic excision whenplaced opposite an abasic site compared to natural nucleotides such asdATP.

These results have several important ramifications toward thedevelopment and implementation of these analogues as innovativechemotherapeutic agents. Since these nonnatural nucleotides areselectively inserted opposite abasic sites, they may potentiate thecytotoxic effects of DNA damaging agents such as temozolomide andcyclophosphamide that can increase the formation of abasic sites byenhancing the spontaneous rate of depurination or through DNA repairmechanisms. Our nucleotide analogues could potentiate the cytotoxiceffects of these chemotherapeutic agents since they may inhibit therepair of lesions caused by various DNA damaging compounds. The benefitof potentiation is that lower doses of DNA damaging agents could beadministered to reduce the potential for common side effects includingimmunosuppression, nausea, and allopecia that are associated with theseagents.

An additional advantage of these nonnatural nucleotides lies in theirchemopreventive potential when used in combination with DNA damagingchemotherapeutic agents. This aspect is important since a significantconcern of chemotherapy is the generation of mutational errors caused bythe inappropriate replication of unrepaired DNA lesions caused by DNAdamaging agents. Indeed, it is now recognized that the development ofsecondary cancers can arise from inadvertent mutagenesis caused bychemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage. One prevalent example istreatment-related acute myeloid leukemia (tAML), which can develop afterexposure to DNA alkylating agents such as chlorambucil andcyclophosphamide. These nonnatural nucleotides could be instrumental inthe prevention of secondary cancers since they would inhibit thepropagation of genomic errors caused by DNA damaging agents. We notethat the calculated toxicity and therapeutic indices are lower than whatwould be expected for a truly effective and potent chain terminator.However, these low values arise from the rigorous exonucleaseproofreading associated with the bacteriophage T4 polymerase. Wehypothesize that these values will be higher depending upon the DNApolymerase. For example, error prone DNA polymerase such as pol η andpol κ are devoid of or have significantly reduced exonuclease activity.A reduction or omission in exonuclease activity coupled with highdiscrimination in insertion would significantly increase the toxicityindex of these nonnatural nucleotides. Since error-prone DNA polymerasesare proposed to be responsible for replicating beyond most DNA lesions,including abasic sites, we speculate that the toxicity index fornonnatural nucleotides such as 5-PhITP will be considerably higher thanthat reported here once tested for in vivo efficacy.

Example 3 Defining the Dynamics of Nucleotide Incorporation Opposite anAbasic Site: A Structure-Activity Relationship of Modified PurineTriphosphate Analogs

The replication of damaged DNA is considered to be a pro-mutagenicevent1 that can culminate in the development of various diseases, themost notably of which is cancer. A commonly occurring form of DNA damageis an abasic site that can be produced both non-enzymatically andenzymatically through the action of various DNA repair enzymes. Althoughan abasic site is devoid Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding potential, mostreplicative DNA polymerases preferentially incorporate dATP oppositethis lesion. This kinetic phenomenon is commonly referred to as the “Arule” of translesion DNA synthesis. Indeed, kinetic studies using gp43,the bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase, demonstrate that dATP isincorporated opposite an abasic site with a ˜35-fold greater overallcatalytic efficiency compared to dGTP. This difference is caused throughenhanced binding affinity for dATP (K_(D) values of 35 μM versus 130 μMfor dATP and dGTP, respectively) as well as through an increase in therate constant for polymerization for dATP (kpol values of 0.15 s⁻¹ and0.023 s⁻ for dATP and dGTP, respectively).

We previously identified a series of non-natural nucleotides that areincorporated opposite an abasic site with nearly 1,000-fold highercatalytic efficiency than dATP. Unique amongst these modified indolylanalogs are 5-NITP and 5-PhITP which display extremely fast k_(pol)values of 126 and 53 sec⁻¹, respectively. In addition, both analogs bindwith higher affinity than dATP, having K_(D) values of 18 μM for 5-NITPand 6 μM for 5-PhITP. Despite being significantly different with respectto shape and size (FIG. 18A), both non-natural nucleotides arerelatively hydrophobic and rich in π-electron density compared tonatural dNTPs. We argued that these two biophysical features providegreater base-stacking capabilities and account for their enhancedincorporation opposite an abasic site.

In this manuscript, we have further probed this proposed mechanism bymonitoring the kinetics of nucleotide incorporation opposite an abasicsite using a library of purine analogs (FIG. 18A). The first advantageto this approach is with respect to the greater diversity of biophysicalfeatures associated with the modified purines compared to thenon-natural indolyl triphosphates. The second advantage lies in ourability to quantify the effects of atomic substitutions and/orpermutations of the functional groups present on either analog on thekinetics of their incorporation and subsequent elongation. Through thisapproach, the influence on binding affinity (K_(d) effect),polymerization rate (k_(pol) effect), or a combination of the two can berelated to the associated differences in shape/size, hydrophobicity,solvation energy, dipole moment, and base-stacking capacity of eachmodified purine. The resulting structure-activity relationship providesa consistent theme in which k_(pol) is influenced by hydrophobicfeatures and aromatic properties associated with the incomingnucleotide. A more complex situation exists with respect to bindingaffinity as this kinetic step appears to be influenced by severalinterrelated features of the nucleotide. A comparison of the dataobtained with these modified purines versus indolyl triphosphatesreveals significant differences in K_(D) and k_(pol) values. Despitethese differences, however, comparison of the kinetic data for eitherclass of nucleotide analog provides evidence for a comprehensive modelthat accounts for the influence of hydrophobicity and π-electron densityon ground state nucleotide binding and conformational change steps thatoccur during translesion DNA replication.

Materials and Methods Materials.

[γ-³²P] ATP was purchased from MP Biomedical (Irvine, Calif.).Unlabelled dNTPs (ultrapure) were obtained from Pharmacia. MgCl₂ andTrizma base were from Sigma Urea, acrylamide, and bis-acrylamide werefrom Aldrich. Oligonucleotides, including those containing atetrahydrofuran moiety mimicking an abasic site, were synthesized byOperon Technologies (Alameda, Calif.). 2-APTP, 2,6 DAPTP, dIPTP,8-oxo-dATP, 6-ClPTP, 6-Cl-2-APTP, 7-deaza dATP, N²-methyl dGTP,O⁶-methyl dGTP, N⁶-methyl dATP was obtained from TriLink BioTechnologies(San Diego, Calif.), 7-deaza dGTP was obtained from Sigma in greaterthan 99% purity. All other materials were obtained from commercialsources and were of the highest available quality. Theexonuclease-deficient mutant of gp43 (Asp-219 to Ala mutation) waspurified and quantified as previously described.

General Methods.

5′-ends of the primer and template stands were labeled using [γ-³²P]-ATPand T4 polynucleotide kinase (GibcoBRL). Single-stranded and duplex DNAwere purified and quantified as previously described. The assay bufferused in all kinetic studies consisted of 25 mM Tris-OAc (pH 7.5), 150 mMKOAc, and 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. All assays were performed at 25° C.Polymerization reactions were monitored by analysis of the products on20% sequencing gels as described by Mizrahi et al. Gel images wereobtained with a Packard PhosphorImager using the OptiQuant softwaresupplied by the manufacturer. Product formation was quantified bymeasuring the ratio of ³²P-labelled extended and non-extended primer.The ratios of product formation are corrected for substrate in theabsence of polymerase (zero point). Corrected ratios are then multipliedby the concentration of primer/template used in each assay to yieldtotal product. All concentrations are listed as final solutionconcentrations.

Determination of the Kinetic Rate and Dissociation Constants for dXTPIncorporation.

The kinetic parameters k_(pol) and K_(D) for each dXTP during DNAsynthesis were obtained by monitoring the rate of product formationusing a fixed amount of gp43 exo⁻ (1 μM) and DNA substrate (250 nM) atvarying concentrations of nucleotide triphosphate (0.01-0.5 mM).Aliquots of the reaction were quenched into 200 mM EDTA, pH 7.4 at timesranging from 5-240 seconds. In some instances, time courses weregenerated using a rapid quench instrument as previously described. Theseexperiments were likewise performed using single turnover conditions inwhich 1 μM gp43exo⁻ and 250 nM 13/20SP-mer were mixed against variousconcentrations of dNTP (10-500 μM) at time intervals ranging from 0.005to 10 seconds. The reactions were quenched through the addition of 350mM EDTA. Quenched samples were diluted 1:1 with sequencing gel loadbuffer and products were analyzed for product formation by denaturinggel electrophoresis. Data obtained for single turnover rates in DNApolymerization were fit to the equation:

y=Ae−kobs*t+C

where A is burst amplitude, k_(obs) is the first order rate constant, tis time, and C is a defined constant. Data for the dependency of k_(obs)versus dXTP concentration were fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation:

k _(obs) =k _(pol) [dXTP]/K _(D) +[dXTP]

where k_(obs) is the apparent first order rate constant k_(pol) is themaximal polymerization rate constant, K_(D) is the kinetic dissociationconstant for dXTP, and dXTP is the concentration of nucleotidesubstrate.

Extension Beyond an Abasic Site.

Single turnover conditions were used to measure the rates of extensionbeyond a dXMP:abasic site base pair. Gp43 exo⁻ (1 μM) was incubated with250 nM DNA (13/20SP-mer) in assay buffer containing EDTA (100 μM) andmixed with 100 μM dXTP and 10 mM MgAcetate. After ˜60 seconds, 900 μMdGTP (the next correct dNTP for the next three positions) was added.Aliquots of the reactions were quenched with 500 mM EDTA at variabletimes (5-900 sec) and analyzed as described above.

Results and Discussion

This report outlines our efforts to delineate the molecular mechanismaccounting for the unexpected discrimination in purine incorporationopposite an abasic site, a nontemplating DNA lesion (FIG. 18B). Weemployed an approach to quantify the effects of various atomicsubstitutions and permutations of functional groups present on eitherdATP or dGTP toward the kinetics of incorporation and elongation. FIG.18A illustrates the diversity of nucleotide analogs used in this study.As highlighted in Table 7, these analogs differ with respect to numerousbiophysical parameters including (but not limited to) surface area,salvation energy, dipole moment, and π-electron density. The kineticparameters K_(D) and k_(pol) for the incorporation of these dXTPsopposite an abasic site were measured using gp43exo⁻ as the model DNApolymerase. All reactions were performed using single turnover reactionconditions to measure the kinetic steps outlined in FIG. 5 that reflectinitial ground state binding of dXTP (Step 2), the conformation changeprior to chemistry (Step 3)

TABLE 7 Summary of kinetic parameters for the incorporation ofnon-natural nucleotides opposite an abasic site^(a) Surface DipoleSolvation Area momentary Energy Aromatic Analog K_(D) [μM] k_(pol) (s⁻¹)(Å²)^(b) (Debye)^(c) (kcal/mol) Nature dATP^(d) 35 ± 5 0.15 ± 0.01 143.02.38 −19.258 dATP dGTP^(d) 130 ± 5  0.023 ± 0.005 152.5 7.18 −26.009dGTP 5-NITP^(e) 18 ± 3 126 ± 7  171.4 7.81 −7.381 NA^(G) 5-PhITP^(f) 14± 3 5 ± 4 223.2 3.31 −5.532 NA 7-Deaza 197 ± 40 1.4 ± 0.1 148.7 3.64−17.846 dATP dATP 7-Deaza 215 ± 91 0.11 ± 0.02 158.2 4.95 −24.247 dGTPdGTP N⁶-methyl 190 ± 45 5.6 ± 0.6 165.0 2.16 −16.322 dATP dATP O⁶-methyl181 ± 35 0.98 ± 0.08 174.5 2.94 −19.998 dATP dGTP N²-methyl 245 ± 680.12 ± 0.02 173.1 7.54 −22.306 dGTP dGTP 2-APTP 180 ± 23 0.23 ± 0.02143.2 3.10 −19.142 dATP 6-Cl-dATP  83 ± 16 0.28 ± 0.02 145.2 4.99−16.449 dATP dITP 103 ± 14 0.044 ± 0.003 139.0 5.63 −21.790 dGTP6-Cl-2APTP  71 ± 20 0.12 ± 0.01 158.7 4.83 −19.063 dATP 8-Oxo ND ND152.4 3.74 −21.750 dATP dATP 2,6-DAPTP 900 ± 70 2.4 ± 0.3 156.4 0.82−22.335 dATP ^(a)Assays were performed using 1 μM gp43 exo-, 250 nM13-20SP-mer, and variable concentrations of non-natural nucleotide inthe presence of 10 mM Mg2+. ^(b)Surface areas (used as an indicator ofthe relative size of the nucleobase), dipole moments (debye), andsolvation energies for each nucleobase were calculated using Spartan ′02software. ^(c)Aromatic nature refers to whether the purine analog hasthe same tautomeric form as dATP or dGTP. gNA = not applicable thatreflect initial ground state binding of dXTP (step 2), theconformational change prior to chemistry (step 3), and/or the chemistrystep itself (step 4).

Representative data provided in FIG. 19A illustrates the dependency onthe rate constant in primer elongation as a function of N⁶-methyl dATPconcentration. Each time course in primer elongation was fit to theequation defining a single exponential process eqn 1) to obtain kobsvalues. The plot of Fib, versus N⁶-methyl dATP concentration ishyperbolic (FIG. 19B) and was fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation toobtain a K_(D) of 190+/−45 μM and a k_(pol) of 5.6+/−0.6 sec⁻¹.

Identical analyses were performed for each nucleotide analog used inthis study. K_(D) and k_(pol) values for each analog are summarized inTable 7. These data provide a structure activity relationship (SAR)highlighting the importance of various biophysical parameters toward theefficiency of nucleotide incorporation. To facilitate discussion, wehave sub divided our analyses to discuss the effects of atomicsubstitutions and permutations on binding affinity (K_(D) effect), therate constant for polymerization (k_(pol) effect), and the rate constantfor elongation (k_(ext) effect).

Biophysical Parameters Affecting Binding-Affinity (KD Effect).

Our analyses begins by first comparing the binding affinity for modifiedpurine analogs versus two representative indolyl analogs, 5-NITP and5-PhITP. As summarized in Table 7, both 5-NITP and 5-PhITP havesignificantly lower K_(D) values compared to dATP, dGTP, and anymodified analog of these purines. We originally proposed that the lowK_(D) values of 10 μM 5-NITP and 5-PhITP reflected their favorablesolvation energies and extended π-electron surface areas. Thus, it waspredicted that lowering the solvation energy and/or increasing theπ-electron surface area of any purine by modifying various functionalgroups would enhance their binding affinity and be reflected in lowK_(D) values as well. Surprisingly, the kinetic data provided in Table 7provided evidence to the contrary as any atomic substitution and/orpermutation of functional groups present on dATP or dGTP does notenhance binding affinity as predicted.

One example that illustrates this phenomenon is apparent by examiningthe influence of removing the potential hydrogen groups at the N-7position of each purine. This modification increases the hydrophobicnature of each purine by ˜1.5 kcal/mol. Rather than enhance bindingaffinity, removal of N-7 group actually reduces it for both dATP anddGTP. Specifically, the K_(D) of 200 μM for 7-deaza-dATP is nearlyidentical to that of 215 μM for 7-deaza-dGTP. It is striking thatremoving this functional group has a more pronounced on the K_(D) valuefor dATP (6-fold decrease) than dGTP (2-fold decrease). In this respect,it is surprising that this modification allows both purine analogs tobind with nearly identical affinities. These data first argue thatsolely decreasing the solvation energy of a nucleotide does not increaseits binding affinity. Secondly, the reduction in binding affinitysuggests that altering the hydrogen bonding potential has an adverseeffect on binding affinity.

The influence of other potential hydrogen groups on binding affinity wasnext evaluated by examining purines containing modifications to the 6-or 2-position of either dATP or dGTP. With the exception of 6-Cl-2APTP,any modification to the functional groups of dGTP adversely affectsbinding affinity (Table 7). For example, the K_(D) for O⁶-methyl dGTP is180 μM while the K_(D) for N²-methyl-dGTP is 245 μM. In both cases,alkylation of a hydrogen bonding group reduces affinity by ˜2-fold.Likewise, alkylation at the O6-position of dATP also has a negativeeffect on nucleotide binding as manifest in a high K_(D) value of 190μM. Again, it is quite striking that the K_(D) of 190 μM for N⁶-methyldATP is essentially identical to that of 180 μM for O⁶-methyl-dGTP. Atface value, these data suggest that perturbing the hydrogen bondingpotential of the incoming nucleotide decreases binding affinity.However, this simple explanation is incomplete since 2-APTP, anisosteric analog of dATP, also has a relatively high K_(D) value of 180μM. It is remarkable that dATP and 2-APTP display such large differencesin binding affinities since both are similar with respect tocomposition, size, salvation energy, and dipole moment (Table 7). Themost obvious difference between dATP and 2-APTP is with respect topositioning of the exocyclic amino group.

A sub-set of analogs including 6-Cl-dATP, 6-Cl-2APTP, and ITP showminimal perturbations in binding affinity (˜3-fold). Attempts to derivea correlation between binding affinity and a singular biophysicalparameter were unfortunately unsuccessful. All three analogs differ withrespect to shape, hydrophobicity/solvation energies, and dipole moment.However, all three possess a functional group at the C6-position thatmay be inefficiently substitute for the amino group. In these instances,the data clearly indicate that replacing the amino group at theC6-position of dATP negatively influences binding affinity.

Collectively, the data obtained with all modified purine analogshighlight the importance of functional groups at the C6 and N7 positionsenhance binding affinity during translesion DNA synthesis. In general, astrong correlation between binding affinity with the size and/or shapeof the incoming dNTP is not observed. The lack of correlation arguesagainst a model invoking steric constraints/shape complementarity as amodel to explain binding affinity. Likewise, a model invokingbase-stacking interactions also appears incomplete since a distinctcorrelation between binding affinity and hydrophobicity and/orπ-electron density is not observed. One model that may explain the datais that of negative selection originally proposed by Chiaramonte et al.using the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. Inthis model, the polymerase is capable of interacting with each of thefour natural dNTPs equally well. However, only the dNTP that adopts thelowest energy conformation when paired opposite an abasic site can allowthe polymerase to catalyze phosphodiester bond formation. With respectto gp43, one possibility is the polymerase “recognizes” the C6 positionand the N7 group as determinants to adopt the lowest energy conformationto thereby enhance binding affinity during translesion DNA synthesis. Weacknowledge that further analysis with other modified purines is neededto validate this model. Regardless, it is clear that there aresignificant difference in the binding affinities for non-natural indolyltriphosphates compared with modified purines. As discussed later, thesedifferences likely reflect subtle nuances in the mechanism of nucleotiderecognition and selection during translesion DNA synthesis.

Biophysical Parameters Affecting the Polymerization Rate Constant (kpolEffect).

Although the molecular forces influencing dXTP binding remain ambiguous,it is clear that the k_(pol) step is influenced by the hydrophobic andaromatic nature of the incoming dXTP. The effect of hydrophobicity onthe k_(pol) step is perhaps best exemplified by the 7-deaza-purinetriphosphates (Table 7). The k_(pol) of 1.4 sec⁻¹ for 7-deaza dATP is˜10-fold higher than that for dATP. A similar effect is observed with7-deaza dGTP as the k_(pol) of 0.11 sec⁻¹ is ˜5-fold higher than thatfor dGTP. Indeed, direct comparison of k_(pol) values for theincorporation of dATP versus 7-deaza dATP reveals an overall decrease inΔΔG⁰ of ˜1.4 kcal/mol. This value compares favorably with the 1.5kcal/mol difference in solvation energies between dATP and 7-deaza dATP.Similar analyses performed for dGTP and 7-deaza dGTP yield comparableinterpretations. It is also noteworthy that altering the solvationenergies of either nucleotide does not change the preference for adenineversus guanine insertion opposite the abasic site. In fact, thecatalytic efficiency for 7-deaza dATP is still >10-fold higher than thatfor 7-deaza dGTP.

The importance of hydrophobicity is also manifest in the k_(pol) valuesfor several alkylated purines such as N⁶-methyl dATP and O⁶-methyl dGTP(Table 8). The k_(pol) value of 5.3 sec⁻¹ for N⁶-methyl dATP is 40-foldfaster compared to dATP. Likewise, the k_(pol) value of 0.98 sec⁻¹ forO⁶-methyl dGTP is 40-fold faster than that of 0.023 sec⁻¹ measured withdGTP. In each case, the 40-fold difference in k_(pol) values coincideswell with the associated differences in solvation energies between eachset of alkylated and unmodified purine triphosphate.

Alkylation at the N2 position of dGTP also has a beneficial effect onk_(pol) since the value of 0.12 sec⁻¹ is ˜5 fold faster than that fordGTP. As before, the faster k_(pol) value coincides with an increase innucleobase hydrophobicity. We note, however, that the k_(pol) value forN²-methyl-dGTP is ˜10-fold slower than that for O⁶-methyl-dGTP. Thisdifference could reflect the 2.3 kcal/mol difference in solvation energybetween the two analogs (Table 8). However, we argue that the 10-folddifference in k_(pol) values between N²-methyl-dGTP and O⁶-methyl-dGTPreflects variations in their aromatic nature which ultimately influencestheir base-stacking capabilities. It is generally accepted that thearomatic nature of a molecule is associated with the degree of itscyclic π-electron systems. Inspection of the structures of dATP and dGTPprovided in FIG. 18A reveal that the preferred tautomeric form of dATPis more aromatic than dGTP due to the cyclic electron system. In thisstudy, the total HOMA index value for adenine is 0.917 while that forguanine is 0.745. The higher value confirms that adenine is morearomatic than guanine. An identical conclusion was reached when theanalysis was performed comparing NICS aromatic indices for eitherpurine.

Additional evidence for the influence of aromaticity on thepolymerization rate constant comes from evaluating k_(pol) values fordITP. The k_(pol) value of 0.044 sec⁻¹ for dITP is 3.5-fold lower thanthat of dATP. At face value, the slower k_(pol) value could reflectperturbations in the hydrophobicity of the nucleotide since thesolvation energy of ˜21.790 kcal/mol for dITP is significantly higherthan that of ˜19.258 kcal/mol for dATP. However, dITP also has adifferent tautomeric form than dATP. Indeed, it is striking that dITPand dGTP have identical tautomeric forms (and presumably similararomatic indices) that coincide with the nearly identical k_(pol) valuesof ˜0.03 sec⁻¹.

The kinetic data for 6-Cl-dATP and 2-APTP are also consistent with thismodel. The k_(pol) value of 0.23 sec⁻¹ for 2-APTP and 0.12 sec⁻¹measured for 6-Cl-2-APTP are very similar to that measured with dATP(0.15 sec⁻¹). Both modified analogs have the same tautomeric form asdATP, a feature that again coincides with the similarities inpolymerization rate constants. We note, however, that the k_(pol) valuefor 6-Cl-dATP is 2-fold higher than dATP. This increase may reflect the2.809 kcal/mol lower salvation energy for 6-Cl-dATP compared to dATP.This last example re-emphasizes the fact that the enzymaticconformational change step, as measured by k_(pol) values, is influencedboth by the hydrophobic and aromatic nature of the incoming nucleotide.

Nucleotide Analogs Displaying Exceptional Kinetic Behavior.

Close inspection of Table 7 reveals two unique results that are worthyof discussion. The first is 8-Oxo-dATP which is similar in overall shapeand size to dATP buts is more hydrophilic by 2.5 kcal/mol. Even at thehighest concentration of 8-Oxo-dATP tested (350 μM), no incorporationwas observed (data not shown). At face value, the lack of insertionappears to validate our conclusions regarding the importance ofhydrophobicity during incorporation opposite an abasic site. However, analternative possibility is that this modification changes in the synversus anti conformation of the nucleotide and adversely influences itinsertion. Indeed, this appears to be the most likely explanation sincethe incorporation of 8-Oxo-dATP opposite T is 14-fold slower than thatfor dATP incorporation Other evidence including misincorporation dataopposite G and molecular modeling predictions suggest that the synconformation of 8-oxo-dATP is preferentially incorporated oppositetemplating DNA. By inference, this conformation would most likely bepreferentially incorporation opposite an abasic site.

The other surprising result is the fast k_(pol) value of 2.4 s⁻¹ and thehigh K_(D) of 900 μM measured for 2,6-DAPTP incorporation opposite anabasic site. The 16-fold increase in k_(pol) compared to that of dATPcontradicts the hypothesis that the hydrophobicity of the incomingnucleobase places constraints on the rate constant for polymerization.Likewise, the high K_(D) value 900 μM for 2,6-DAPTP is puzzling since itwas predicted that placing an amino group at the 6-position wouldincrease binding affinity, not hinder it. There is evidence that2,6-DAPTP displays peculiar behavior when paired opposite templating DNAthat might explain the unique results described here. For example, thepresence of 2,6-DAPTP significantly stabilizes duplex DNA and abolishesDNA curvature in A-tract DNA when substituted for adenine. Thesefeatures arguably reflect the ability of 2,6-DAPTP to disrupt the normalspine of hydration of DNA to alter the groove width of DNA. Thus,2,6-DAPTP may display unusual kinetic behavior during translesion DNAsynthesis due to influence potential alterations in hydrogenbondingand/or base-stacking interactions of this nucleotide.

Extensions Beyond dXTP:Abasic Site M is airs.

We previously demonstrated that gp43exo⁻ can extend beyond an abasicsite only when dAMP or dGMP are placed opposite the lesion. The kineticsof elongation are proposed to reflect the positioning of thesenucleobases in an interhelical position and arguably reflects theenhanced base-stacking capabilities compared to pyrimidines. If correct,then analogs with enhanced base stacking capabilities (increasedhydrophobicity and π-electron density) should be easily elongated. Thishypothesis was tested using the experimental protocol outlined in FIG.20A to measure the ability of gp43exo⁻ to extend beyond the variousmispairs. As shown in FIG. 20B, nearly all modified nucleotides thathave the same tautomeric form as dATP are more easily elongated whereasthose resembling dGTP are not. The data in Table 8 provides aquantitative assessment of the influence of tautomeric form andhydrophobicity toward the rate constants for extension (k_(ext)). Forexample, N⁶-methyl-dATP and 7-deazadATP have faster k_(ext) valuescompared to dATP. While both analogs have the same tautomeric form asdATP, we argue that the faster k_(ext) also values reflects theirincreased hydrophobicity which enhances their base-stacking capabilitiesand interhelical conformation required for elongation.

The influence of aromaticity is also evident when comparing the k_(ext)values of O⁶-methyl-dGTP with dGTP. In this instance, the ˜20-foldincrease in k_(ext) for O⁶-methyldGTP coincides well with the change inaromatic nature (and tautomeric form) that must occur from alkylation atthe O⁶ position. This increase does not arise due to simple increases inhydrophobicity since alkylation at the N2 position of dGTP does notenhance the rate constant for elongation. Furthermore, the slow kineticsof extension beyond dGTP as well as the lack of extension beyond dITPand N⁷-Deaza dGTP arguably reflects their weaker base-stackingcapabilities that reflects a reduction in their aromatic nature.

TABLE 8 Summary of kinetic rate constants for extension beyond an abasicsite catalyzed by gp43exo−^(a). Solvation Energy dXTP k_(ext)(s⁻¹)(kcal/mo) Tautomeric Form dATP 0.25 ± 0.01 −19.258 A 7-Deaza dATP 0.32 ±0.03 −17.846 A N⁶-Methyl dATP 0.71 ± 0.04 −16.322 A O⁶-Methyl dGTP 0.092± 0.009 −22.306 A 2-APTP ND −19.142 A 6-Cl-2-APTP 0.033 ± 0.004 −19.063A 2,6-DAPTP 0.016 ± 0.003 −22.335 A 6-Cl-dATP 0.031 ± 0.003 −16.449 A8-Oxo-dATP ND −21.750 A dGTP 0.005 ± 0.001 −26.009 G N²-Methyl dGTP ND−19.998 G dITP ND −21.790 G 7-Deaza dGTP ND −24.247 G ^(a)Insertion andextension beyond an abasic site lesion was measured by preincubatinggp43exo− (1 μM) with 5′-labeled 13/20SP-mer (500 nM) and then mixingwith 50 μM of dXTP to initiate the reaction. After 2 minutes, an aliquotof the reaction was quenched with 200 mM EDTA (denoted as Inc) tomeasure insertion opposite the lesion. 900 μM dGTP was then added andaliquots of the reaction were quenched with 200 mM EDTA at timeintervals raging from 5 to 300 seconds. The generated time courses werefit to equation 1 to define kext, the rate constant for extension beyondthe formed mispair.

There are again clear exceptions to this proposed mechanism. Forexample, 2-APTP cannot be extended despite being similar in tautomericform and hydrophobicity to dATP. Although the molecular reason for thelack of elongation is currently unknown, it appears that removal of afunctional group at the C6 position may also hinder the kineticselongation. Indeed, it is clear that analogs such as 2-Cl-dATP and6-Cl-2-APTP are elongated ˜10-fold slower compared to dXTPs with minimalperturbations to the exocyclic amino group (dATP, N⁷-deaza dATP, andN⁶-methyl dATP). One potential mechanism invokes the contributions ofvarious heterocyclic functional groups during the polymerization cycle.These functional groups provide contacts with the minor groove of DNAand the DNA polymerase that are necessary for polymerase translocation.Another possibility is that the some mispairs distort theprimer-template junction more extensive than other mispairs to hinderpolymerase translocation to the next correct templating position.Regardless, the data indicate a clear connection between k_(pol) andk_(ext) values that reflect the influence of base-stacking properties ofthe modified purine.

Conclusions.

Two distinct kinetic steps are proposed to play significant roles fordiscriminating against nucleotide incorporation opposite the damagedDNA. These include the dXTP binding step (FIG. 5, step 2) which hindersthe polymerase from initially forming the nascent mispair and theconformational change step (FIG. 5, step 3) than prevents the subsequentformation of the mispair. A key question remains as to which kineticstep is most sensitive to variations in diverse biophysical features ofthe incoming nucleotide. This question was addressed by monitoring theincorporation and elongation of modified purines opposite an abasicsite. The resulting SAR reveals that the maximal rate constant inpolymerization during incorporation opposite an abasic site ispredominantly influenced by the hydrophobicity and π-electron surfacearea of the incoming nucleotide. We argue that this k_(pol) step (FIG.5, step 3) represents the enzymatic conformational change required toplace the incoming nucleotide into an interhelical conformation thatthen allows for proper alignment of the primer-template necessary forthe phosphoryl transfer step (k_(chem)) (FIG. 5, step 4). The dataprovided here indicate that rate constant for this kinetic step duringtranslesion synthesis can be significantly accelerated if the incomingnucleotide possesses enhanced base-stacking properties such as lowsalvation energies coupled with a high degree of aromaticity. Thisreinforces the interpretations from our previous studies usingnon-natural indolyldeoxyribose triphosphates such as 5-NITP and 5-PhITP.Both analogs are rapidly incorporated opposite an abasic site withk_(pol) values of 126 sec⁻¹ and 53 sec⁻¹ for 5-NITP and 5-PhITPrespectively. As illustrated in FIG. 18, both nucleotides have a moreextended π-electron surface area compared to the modified purines.Likewise, the solvation energies for 5-nitroindole and 5-phenylindoleare −7.38 and −5.53 kcal/mol, respectively, and are much lower thanthose for any modified purine analogs. The results collectively indicatethat the rate of the conformational change is linked with the presenceof π-electron density and salvation energies.

The molecular forces dictating nucleotide binding opposite the DNAlesion appear to be more complex than originally proposed. We previouslydemonstrated that 5-PhITP, 5-CE-ITP, and 5-CH-ITP have low the K_(D)values of ˜10 μM for incorporation opposite an abasic site. Since theseanalogs are similar in size and hydrophobicity, their identity in K_(D)values suggested that binding affinity opposite the DNA lesion wasinfluenced by shape/size constraints coupled with favorable desolvationenergies. The data obtained using modified purine analogs indicate thatthis potential mechanism is either incorrect or incomplete. In thisregard, all modified dATP and dGTP analogs tested in this study, bindsignificantly worse than the aforementioned indolyl analogs irrespectiveof shape/size and hydrophobicity. This dichotomy suggests that there isnot a “universal” mechanism with respect to ground state nucleotidebinding by the bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase. The data obtained withmodified purines is consistent with the negative selection model inwhich the polymerase discriminates against those analogs havingalterations to the C6 and the N7 functional group. In contrast, dataobtained with the indolyl analogs suggests a hybrid model of stericconstraints and base-stacking contributions in which the size andhydrophobicity of the incoming nucleotide play the pre-eminent roletoward enhancing binding affinity opposite an abasic site.

1. A compound comprising formula (I):

where Het is a heterocyclic azaindene analog selected from the groupconsisting of:

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, or OR_(a),where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain, branched orcyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, arylsulfonyl,aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue, or a mono, di,or triphosphate derivative; where R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀,R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, and R₁₈, each independently representsubstituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl,C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀ aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀aryloxycarbonyl, halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonato, carboxy, carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substitutedcarbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substitutedarylcarbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato,isocyanato, isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- anddi-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino,alkylimino, arylimino, nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl,arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato,phospho, phosphino, and combinations thereof, and further wherein anytwo adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linked to form a cyclicstructure selected from five-membered rings, six-membered rings, andfused five-membered and/or six-membered rings, wherein the cyclicstructure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic,and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms;and with the proviso that at least one of R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈,R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, R₁₈ is other than hydrogenand that where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or prodrug thereof.
 2. Thecompound of claim 1, wherein the heterocylic azaindene has the followingformula:

where R₄, R₅, and R₆ each independently represent substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl,C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo,hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl,halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy,carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl,thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato,isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino,C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino, alkylimino, arylimino,nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino,and combinations thereof, and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho)substituents may be linked to form a cyclic structure selected fromfive-membered rings, six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/orsix-membered rings, wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic,heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogensubstituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that atleast one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other than hydrogen; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof.
 3. The compound of claim2, wherein at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆ is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.
 4. The compoundof claim 2, wherein at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆ is a halo, amino,nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 5. Thecompound of claim 1, wherein the heterocylic azaindene has the followingformula:


6. The compound of claim 5, wherein R₅ is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.
 7. The compoundof claim 5, wherein R₅ is a halo, amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 8. The compound of claim 5, whereinR₅ is a nitro or C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl.
 9. A method of inhibiting translesionDNA replication in a cell containing abasic nucleotides in the DNA, themethod comprising: administering an agent to the cell, the agentcomprising formula (I):

where Het is a heterocyclic azaindene analog selected from the groupconsisting of:

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, or OR_(a),where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain, branched orcyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, arylsulfonyl,aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue, or a mono, di,or triphosphate derivative; where R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀,R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, and R₁₈, each independently representsubstituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl,C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀ aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀aryloxycarbonyl, halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonato, carboxy, carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substitutedcarbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substitutedarylcarbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato,isocyanato, isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- anddi-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino,alkylimino, arylimino, nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl,arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato,phospho, phosphino, and combinations thereof, and further wherein anytwo adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linked to form a cyclicstructure selected from five-membered rings, six-membered rings, andfused five-membered and/or six-membered rings, wherein the cyclicstructure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic,and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms;and with the proviso that at least one of R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈,R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, R₁₈ is other than hydrogenand that where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or prodrug thereof.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the heterocylic azaindene has the followingformula:

where R₄, R₅, and R₆ each independently represent substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl,C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo,hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl,halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy,carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl,thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato,isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino,C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino, alkylimino, arylimino,nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino,and combinations thereof, and further wherein any two adjacent (ortho)substituents may be linked to form a cyclic structure selected fromfive-membered rings, six-membered rings, and fused five-membered and/orsix-membered rings, wherein the cyclic structure is aromatic, alicyclic,heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic, and has zero to 4 non-hydrogensubstituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms; and with the proviso that atleast one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other than hydrogen; a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆ is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆ is a halo, amino,nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the heterocylic azaindene has the followingformula:


14. The method of claim 13, wherein R₅ is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.
 15. The methodof claim 13, wherein R₅ is a halo, amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinR₅ is a nitro or C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl.
 17. A method of treating aproliferative disease in a subject, the method comprising: administeringa therapeutic agent to the subject; and administering an agent to thesubject, the agent comprising formula (I):

where Het is a heterocyclic azaindene analog selected from the groupconsisting of:

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, or OR_(a),where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain, branched orcyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl, arylsulfonyl,aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue, or a mono, di,or triphosphate derivative; where R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀,R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, and R₁₈, each independently representsubstituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl,C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀ aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀aryloxycarbonyl, halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀arylcarbonato, carboxy, carboxylato, carbamoyl, mono-substitutedcarbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl, mono-substitutedarylcarbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano, isocyano, cyanato,isocyanato, isothiocyanato, azido, formyl, thioformyl, mono- anddi-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- and di-(C₅-C₂₀aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido, imino,alkylimino, arylimino, nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfanyl,arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato,phospho, phosphino, and combinations thereof, and further wherein anytwo adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linked to form a cyclicstructure selected from five-membered rings, six-membered rings, andfused five-membered and/or six-membered rings, wherein the cyclicstructure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic,and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms;and with the proviso that at least one of R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈,R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, R₁₈ is other than hydrogenand that where R₉ is amino R₁₀ is other than hydrogen; apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, the therapeutic agent comprising at least one of achemotherapeutic agent, an antimetabolite, an antitumorgenic agent, anantimitotic agent, an antiviral agent, an antineoplastic agent, animmunotherapeutic agent, and a radiotherapeutic agent.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, the therapeutic agent comprising at least one cytoxic agent,the cytoxic agent compromising the integrity of nucleic acids associatedwith DNA replication and cellular proliferation. 20-22. (canceled) 23.The method of claim 17, wherein the heterocylic azaindene has thefollowing formula:


24. The method of claim 23, wherein R₅ is a substituent that has aπ-electron surface area and density effective to facilitate basestacking interactions and enhance the efficiency of insertion of thenucleoside analog opposite a non-templating DNA lesion.
 25. The methodof claim 23, wherein R₅ is a halo, amino, nitro, C₃-C₂₀ aryl, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, carboxyl, or nitro; a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof; or a prodrug thereof.
 26. The method of claim 23, whereinR₅ is a nitro or C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl.
 27. A method of monitoring DNA damage,comprising: obtaining a sample containing cells from a patient; treatingthe sample with a fluorescent agent that has the following formula (II):

where R₁ is OH, monophosphate (H₂O₃PO— or (O₃PO—)²⁻), diphosphate(H₃(O₃PO)₂— or ((O₃PO)₂—)³⁻), triphosphate (H₄(O₃PO)₃—, ((O₃PO)₃—)⁴⁻),or OR_(a), where R_(a) comprises at least one of a straight chain,branched or cyclic alkyl, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, CO-alkoxyalkyl,arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, amino acid residue, fatty acid residue,or a mono, di, or triphosphate derivative; where R₄, R₅, and R₆ eachindependently represent substituents selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyl, C₃-C₂₀ aryl,C₆-C₂₄ alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄ aralkyl, halo, hydroxyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄ alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₀ aryloxy, acyloxy, C₂-C₂₄alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryloxycarbonyl, halocarbonyl, C₂-C₂₄alkylcarbonato, C₆-C₂₀ arylcarbonato, carboxy, carboxylato, carbamoyl,mono-substituted carbamoyl, di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl,mono-substituted arylcarbamoyl, thiocarbamoyl, carbamido, cyano,isocyano, cyanato, isocyanato, isothiocyanato, azido, formyl,thioformyl, mono- and di-(C₁-C₂₄ alkyl)-substituted amino, mono- anddi-(C₅-C₂₀ aryl)-substituted amino, C₂-C₂₄ alkylamido, C₆-C₂₀ arylamido,imino, alkylimino, arylimino, nitro, nitroso, sulfonato, C₁-C₂₄alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfinyl,C₁-C₂₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₅-C₂₀ arylsulfonyl, phosphono, phosphonato,phosphinato, phospho, phosphino, and combinations thereof, and furtherwherein any two adjacent (ortho) substituents may be linked to form acyclic structure selected from five-membered rings, six-membered rings,and fused five-membered and/or six-membered rings, wherein the cyclicstructure is aromatic, alicyclic, heteroaromatic, or heteroalicyclic,and has zero to 4 non-hydrogen substituents and zero to 3 heteroatoms;and with the proviso that at least one of R₄, R₅, and R₆, is other thanhydrogen; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; determining theamount of fluorescent agent incorporated into the DNA of the cells.28-29. (canceled)